David Finell reviews Caitlin Atkinson

            Caitlin Atkinson is a twenty six year old San Francisco Bay photographer that characterizes herself as a photographer and stylist.  She grew up in Nevada City California and moved to the San Francisco area to attend the California College of Arts and Crafts. 

Her work is largely botanical in nature and can take on a dreamlike ambience.  Many of her plant images easily fall in the still life category while other images of the botanical gardens evoke images of mystical scenes from movies.  She enjoys the botanical gardens and consequently much of her work is centered around this area.  Caitlin’s photography is technically outstanding.  Many of the still lives in her images are reminiscent of those by Don Giannatti.  Her images bring forth a sense of placidity, stillness, and silence.  I could easily envision a whisper being heard as loud a clap of thunder right next door in her images. 

She has had shows in New York as well as other places and is extraordinarily accomplished considering her young age.  Caitlin Atkinson is definitely an artist and photographer to watch.  If she continues to hone and improve her craft I can easily see her name being mentioned alongside the greats.  As for now she maintains a simple and somewhat Spartan life in her apartment on the outskirts of San Francisco.