Joe Clark is a photographer and educator whose work reflects a deep connection to the natural world, particularly the coastal landscapes that provide both inspiration and essential respite from his autoimmune condition. Drawing influence from iconic photographers such as Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and Karl Blossfeldt, Joe’s style merges technical mastery with a reverence for nature, especially the coastal environments where he spends much of his time aboard his sailing vessel, Animaashi.

Focusing on landscapes and the untamed beauty of the natural world, Joe approaches photography as a camera technician first. His goal is to authentically capture the mood and setting of a scene as he encounters it, using his full technical expertise to ensure each image speaks for itself. Like his artistic role model, Ansel Adams, Joe doesn’t manipulate the subjects of his photographs but waits for the perfect conditions to unveil the compositions that nature provides.

Joe’s autoimmune condition, which manifests primarily through severe arthritis and systemic inflammation, greatly shapes both his work and life. He has found that staying close to the ocean is not only a creative choice but also a medical necessity, as the fresh coastal air significantly alleviates his symptoms. This limitation influences the scope of his work, leading him to focus predominantly on coastal regions and maritime landscapes, where he finds healing and inspiration.

Previously, Joe operated a gallery in Downtown Petoskey, Michigan, showcasing his works and offering fine art printing and conservation framing services. Today, his nomadic lifestyle allows him to adapt his art practice to his health needs, focusing on coastal photography and traveling wherever his condition can be best managed. He has exhibited in galleries and consignment spaces across Northern Michigan and has collaborated with non-profit organizations, offering his technical skills and artistic eye to create marketing materials that align with their missions.

Joe extends his expertise to others through workshops and lectures, teaching photography as a technical discipline while sharing insights from his personal journey. His fine art printing experience further adds depth to his educational offerings, making his classes a comprehensive exploration of photography from capture to print.

While Joe believes the emotions behind his images are best left to the viewer’s interpretation, his work carries a quiet power—a testament to the delicate balance between vulnerability and resilience. His personal challenges, particularly the health struggles that have forced him to live a more transient life, have also led him to reflect deeply on the themes of adaptation and survival, themes that subtly resonate in his art.

Looking ahead, Joe intends to continue his journey of travel and photography, using his work to support himself and his family while exploring new landscapes and evolving his craft. As he captures the world’s natural beauty, he invites viewers to see the world through a lens of resilience, adaptability, and reverence for the forces that shape both nature and human life.

Navigating Life with an Autoimmune Condition: Challenges and Hardships

Joe Clark’s life and career have been deeply impacted by the autoimmune condition he battles every day, a condition that causes severe systemic inflammation and debilitating arthritis. This illness limits his mobility, energy, and cognitive functions, making even simple tasks physically exhausting. The condition’s unpredictable nature means that Joe often experiences flare-ups that leave him incapacitated, with pain and fatigue affecting his ability to work, travel, and participate in everyday activities.

A unique aspect of Joe’s condition is that his health deteriorates significantly when he’s far from the ocean. The fresh coastal air, free from many airborne allergens, offers the only relief from his symptoms. Unfortunately, this has forced Joe and his family into a life of constant movement, as they must sail from place to place to avoid extreme temperatures and environmental factors that exacerbate his illness. Prolonged periods inland lead to intensified pain, inflammation, and cognitive decline, making it impossible for him to live in most traditional environments.

This nomadic lifestyle, while essential for Joe’s well-being, has come with its own set of hardships. It has cut Joe and his family off from the traditional social safety nets that are typically available to disabled individuals and low-income families. Without a permanent home address, accessing government assistance, healthcare programs, and even education for their child has been incredibly challenging. Despite his disabling condition, Joe’s family has not been able to receive the support that would normally help them navigate such difficulties. Specialists have been unable to offer lasting solutions, and medications such as steroids, which might mitigate some symptoms, come with significant long-term risks that Joe cannot afford to take.

This lack of support has left Joe and his family in a precarious position, where they must rely solely on his ability to produce and sell his photography to survive. While he is committed to his craft and passionate about his work, the uncertainty of managing a business and supporting a family while also managing a serious health condition adds to the emotional and financial strain. The safety nets that should be in place to help disabled individuals maintain a stable quality of life are inaccessible due to the unique nature of his illness and the steps he has taken to manage it.

Despite these overwhelming challenges, Joe continues to persevere, using his photography as a means to not only support his family but also to bring awareness to the difficulties faced by people living with invisible and misunderstood disabilities. His art is a reflection of both his struggles and his resilience, capturing moments of peace and beauty in the natural world that offer him solace in the midst of ongoing hardship.