Who is Pat

Pat Sparling is a well-known award winning photographer whose work focuses on themes such as farm scenes, sunrises and sunsets, nature, cityscapes, black-and-white photography, and abandoned places. Sparling was notably featured as the artist of the month at the Hedberg Public Library in March 2024, where he discussed his journey into photography, his influences, and his creative philosophy. Sparling was inspired early in life by his mother, who worked for Life Magazine, and began exploring photography after receiving his first camera from her. Growing up in Chicago, he eventually took photography classes at the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College, after already developing foundational skills on his own. His photographic career has included commercial and advertising work for most of his career, but his passion remains in street photography and capturing urban as well as rural landscapes and architectural themes. Sparling cites major influences such as photographers Bill Eppridge, Dick Durrance, and Sue Drinker, attributing much of his artistic perspective to lessons learned from them. Sparling prefers minimal digital editing, favoring the authenticity of the scene as captured rather than heavily utilizing Photoshop or AI tools, which he feels can detract from the artistic nature of photography. His work has been exhibited in various galleries and locations, including public libraries and local art spaces, and he remains committed to exploring the unique and unusual in the everyday world through his lens. He is represented by Ravens Wish Gallery in Janesville Wisconsin