WADE CARPENTER

Charlotte-based photographer and travel writer

Artist Bio:

In May 2017, his best friend, Max Diaz, died suddenly from a rare brain tumor. Max’s passing sent Wade into a deep sadness that was difficult to escape. To help himself cope with the loss, Wade embarked on an action-packed road trip around Namibia. Its alien landscape and ancient culture called out to him. He wanted to step out of his comfort zone and dive headfirst into the unknown.

Armed with two maps and a four-wheel-drive truck, he drove 1,800 dusty miles, exploring Etosha National Park, Damaraland, the Skeleton Coast, Namib-Naukluft National Park, the NamibRand Nature Reserve and the capitol city of Windhoek.

This adventure inspired many of the photographs featured in “Walk on the Wild Side.”

Artist Statement:

“Walk on the Wild Side” captures my love of photography and of exploration, pushing myself deep into the Namibian bush, the Wild Sonoma Coast, the hurricane battered shores of South Carolina low country and the golden hills of Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake. As I opened the shutter for each of these images, I invited you into the shadows and the light. Hopefully, these images will resonate with you, triggering an emotion that is both personal and universal.

A portion of proceeds from this event will be donated to American Brain Tumor Association.