Joe Rattie is a close-focus abstract photographer working digitally, primarily on the streets of Providence, Rhode Island. In 2017, Rattie retired from a forty-year career as an operating room nurse. Ten years into his nursing career, Rattie attended a professional school of photography with an eye toward a career change. However, upon graduation, the economic winds were not blowing in his favor, and as he was married at the time, was forced to continue his nursing career. Over the next twenty years Rattie’s life evolved into that of a nomad embarked on one long road trip, zigzagging his way across the country, supporting himself as a traveling nurse.
Photography school taught Rattie the technical aspects of photography; however, his artistic ability is self-taught. Upon retiring from nursing, Rattie enrolled at Rhode Island College to study art in an effort to flesh out the bones of his artistic ability and while there expose himself to many of the art venues offered at the college. In 2024, he found his academic journey had led him full circle and back to photography in pursuit of his BFA.
Rattie attributes the groundbreaking abstract photography of Aaron Siskind and his comment that “the image should stand on its own merit, with its elements creating the subject and not being seen as a part of another” as the major influence on his work.
Photography school taught Rattie the technical aspects of photography; however, his artistic ability is self-taught. Upon retiring from nursing, Rattie enrolled at Rhode Island College to study art in an effort to flesh out the bones of his artistic ability and while there expose himself to many of the art venues offered at the college. In 2024, he found his academic journey had led him full circle and back to photography in pursuit of his BFA.
Rattie attributes the groundbreaking abstract photography of Aaron Siskind and his comment that “the image should stand on its own merit, with its elements creating the subject and not being seen as a part of another” as the major influence on his work.