Appreciating The Details

Posted by Lori Grimmett on Oct 19, 2011 in Blog | 2 comments

Understanding Why I Photograph And My Journey To Lage Format

Published by Emulsion Magazine, February Issue – USA
PDF Version: Emulsion Magazine 01PDF-1_1

My journey into photography began at the impressionable age of five, when I received my first camera as a gift from my parents. I looked on as my mother spent long hours with her camera, creating and perfecting images, while my father ever so patiently tolerated her obvious passion. Little did I know my life would take a similar direction as I was drawn passionately into the world of photography.

My passion for photography has only increased over these years and has allowed me a deeper understanding of why I photograph. Having known the agony of being trapped in a body that refuses to function – lying there, with the knowledge of the joy and freedom that comes from standing in an open meadow with the wind in my hair and the sun on my face – was heartbreaking. My trials have made me appreciate the details in so much of life, those beautiful yet fleeting moments that bring us hope and the kind of joy you can nearly taste. By capturing these moments through my lens, I hope to allow others to live these moments and to share my joy.

My education in photography blossomed when I met my dear friend and mentor, Robert Hall, a large format photographer. his 8×10 and 12×20 negatives produced sharper images then I ever thought was possible. Before long, I had my own 4×5 and 5×7 and quickly discovered there are no auto settings or short cuts in large format imaging. Every step is slow and meticulous, no detail can be overlooked.

Every image is a test of my skills and even more so my patience, much like the steps that began my physical recovery. Determined to produce quality and detail, I fought to understand this challenging format. I also had to find my own voice in the work; while Robert focuses on contact prints and alternative processing, I thrill at the idea of enlarging my images to display each detail captured by large format. The stunning availability of detail allows my viewers to nearly walk into each scene and experience the same sounds and smells I sensed at the moment God placed the breathtaking masterpiece in front of me.

Large format allowed me to discover the beauty in taking my time, waiting for just the right moment, and expressing an even deeper passion in my images. Capturing a sunset at its finest moment – recording its swirling clouds on a canvas sky – allows my viewers to smell the fresh rain and feel the cool grass on their skin. Each image is an opportunity to relive that experience at a moment’s notice, transporting us from the mundane to a moment of stunning beauty. Because more time and thought go into each image, I have more time to consider, “Why am I photographing this subject, and what do I want others to see or feel with this image?” If I succeed in answering these questions for myself, then my passion penetrates further to each of my viewers, and they too can see the beauty in the details of life.