Art can be a therapeutic release, and very often the story of the artist intensifies the beauty of the creation. That is the case for Denton Cruser, a senior art education student. Cruser’s eye for photography has led him to capture seemingly ordinary moments and transform them into beautiful and intense black-and-white film photographs.
Growing up in West Columbia, Cruser first began exploring art while at White Knoll High School. Although his first class wasn’t until senior year, the release he found in creating something inspired him to continue studying art and eventually art education. Art wasn’t the first path that Cruser pursued; he considered everything from anthropology to religious studies, and it wasn’t until his first photography class that he realized where his path was taking him. An Intro to Photography course led to Advanced Black and White Photography, which ended with Cruser deciding to cultivate his study of photography and film.
Perhaps it’s the intention behind capturing a photograph that draws Cruser in. Unlike using a digital camera, which is instantly gratifying, the process of capturing a photo on film poses a great risk; sometimes things work out and sometimes they don’t. It’s in the uncertainty that Cruser finds a sort of meditation, because through attempting to grasp a singular moment, there is a risk with a great reward. For Cruser, there is a deeper motivation for photography. After being diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at 14, which causes unconscious and compulsive movements known as tics, Cruser realized he was relieved of physical compulsions while creating any sort of art. In this way, art and photography became a mental and physical therapy for Cruser. Both the process of capturing the moment and the final result came to be a sort of introspective practice that caused awareness and presence he couldn’t find anywhere else.
Cruser’s artwork reflects this. His photography is full of glimpses of ordinary life caught in an introspective gaze and light. Cruser, who classifies his style of photography as Contemporary Southern Landscape and Still Life, has a penchant for creating a feeling from his photographs. Whether it’s an azalea branch with a unique focal point or bookshelf stacked full of novels, there is a sort of nostalgia present in each piece. It doesn’t quite matter if the image has a sharp or blurry focus; there’s a comfort about Denton’s work not unlike visiting a beloved landmark from your childhood. One of the most exciting parts of photography for Cruser is the ability it gives him to communicate both his views and emotions, silently.
As far as the future goes, this artist has some exciting plans on his plate. Cruser’s work will be displayed at Cool Beans this coming winter, and he is currently working on his first series of color film photos. The series will be of photographs taken at the Congaree River, and the theme will revolve around Cruser’s family and the foundation they helped create for him. If the future of Cruser’s photography is anything like his current work, good things are ahead.
