Cypher By Charles Peterson

By Troy Michael
February 1, 2009 – 4:16 pmNo Comment | 46 views

Cypher
By Charles Peterson
(Powerhouse)

Charles Peterson is a celebrated photographer who first earned national attention with his photos when they appeared as the art work on many early releases from his hometown label Sub Pop Records.

Capturing intimate and raw “grunge” images, Peterson had his pics published in countless magazines – Village Voice, NME, The New York Times, Mojo, People, Rolling Stone, Spin, Entertainment Weekly, Guitar World, and Newsweek. Peterson’s work has also been published in his books Touch Me I’m Sick (Powerhouse Books, 2003), Screaming Life (Harper Collins, 1995), and Pearl Jam: Place/Date (with Lance Mercer, Rizzoli/Vitalogy, 1997). Recently the photographic artist produced work for Dr. Martens and Adobe. In the spring of 2005, he had his first major exhibition at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA, and his photographs are featured in the permanent collection of Seattle’s Experience Music Project (EMP).

Now Peterson strays from the genre which made him famous to capture images of contemporary breakdancing – centering around the “cypher” (which means circle) created when dancers come together to battle or practice their moves.

Breakdancing has gone worldwide and grown since its infancy in the early 1980s. Cypher finds Peterson applying his photo skills to focus on these circles of breakers and their amazing moves. He captures the passion and intensity these breakers have and the fans who surround them. With his black and white photos, Peterson puts you right in the mix of these talented people to make you feel like you’re actually there.