Understanding how place influences photography isn't just about technique; it's about personal identity and interaction.
Coming to you from Willem Verbeeck, this insightful video shares Lawren Simmons' photographic journey, starting with influences like Gordon Parks and Josef Koudelka. Simmons describes his early fascination with deep shadows and enigmatic images, especially through shooting slide film, which handles shadows uniquely. But his Florida upbringing wasn’t just aesthetic—it deeply informed his early projects. Simmons emphasizes that photography allowed him to engage with his home state, confronting his perceptions of place and identity.
Verbeeck and Simmons also discuss Simmons' projects "My Native Son" and "Out East," both grounded in his experiences as a Black Floridian. Simmons describes how these projects evolved organically, not merely from artistic intent but through his personal interactions in the communities. He reflects candidly on the difficulty—and the unexpected joys—of photographing people in rural Southern environments, emphasizing the importance of being receptive rather than imposing preconceived styles. This openness allowed Simmons to create images that authentically represented the complexities of Florida's culture.
Moving from Florida to DC significantly altered Simmons' approach. He shifted from color to black and white photography because DC’s urban landscape seemed to demand it. Simmons points out how places have their own visual demands, which photographers need to respond to thoughtfully. He argues that photographing Black life in Washington, DC inherently becomes political because of the city's symbolic significance. Rather than explicitly trying to make a political statement, Simmons acknowledges that these layers naturally emerge in his photographs due to his perspective as a Black photographer living and working in a city undergoing profound transformation.
Throughout the video, Simmons emphasizes photography's role as a tool for exploring and making sense of one's surroundings. He touches on how intuition, subconscious motivations, and spontaneous interactions play critical roles in creating meaningful photographs. The conversation highlights his belief that the true impact of photographic projects reveals itself over time, often beyond immediate intentions or conscious planning. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Verbeeck and Simmons.
