i am thrilled to have captured this image. yet, it's just one gem in a treasure trove of moments that epitomize love, silliness, creativity, and unadulterated joy with hannah, alex, ruby, and jarra. from the outset, we consciously avoided the sanitized, coordinated aesthetic often seen in family portraits, steering clear of cookie-cutter shoots that cultivate a sense of conformity. instead, my lens gravitates toward the kaleidoscope of parenting and life, ensuring each photograph reflects our existence's messy, beautiful reality.
as a photographer documenting such pivotal moments, i see myself as a raw, honest historian, capturing the moment's essence with authenticity and sincerity. i cannot imagine a teenager glancing back at these images and feeling disconnected; they are imbued with a sense of realness and genuine emotion. perfection is not my goal; it's the antithesis of what i strive for, regardless of how the photos turn out. i aim to freeze time and encapsulate the fleeting moments of life's journey with all its imperfections and beauty.
in black-and-white photography, colour is replaced by contrast and tone, allowing for a deeper exploration of the nuances of expression and emotion. by removing the distraction of colour, i focus on the interplay of light and shadow, sculpting the narrative to evoke a sense of depth and dimensionality. through meticulous editing and careful attention to detail, i work on a few select images from a shoot, varying in depth and subject/background proportions before readily editing the rest.
i strive to bring out the subtleties of each moment whenever i edit my photographs, going over them with a fine-toothed comb and elevating even the simplest gestures and flaws into powerful visual statements. whether it's the gentle curve of a smile, the weight of a silent gaze, a blurred honest momentous gesture, or areas effectively out-of-focus and likely unintentional when photographed, black and white photography allows me to capture the essence of human experience with unparalleled clarity and depth in a contemporary artistic nature.
this attention grounds the work style i've developed over the years, and these 'acts of looking' are a proud personal achievement. this approach transcends mere visual representation, becoming a tool for introspection and storytelling often lost in saturated commercial photography that invents ideals without paying tribute. it's a practice resonant across my exploration of multidisciplinary mediums, particularly in my painting and pottery, each offering a unique avenue for expressing the complexities of the human condition.
recently, i've stepped away from my photography for a while due to challenges stemming from stagnation and the mistreatment of my work. during this restoration, i plan to focus on my writing and pottery, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to refine my portfolio with all my working mediums. thus, searching for clients becomes a more enjoyable collaborative process that uses my skills collectively and creates more wholesome human experiences, just like the one i had in this shoot with this beautiful family. i look towards the future optimistically, eager to explore new creative avenues and share my vision.
