(in-progress)
Me and My Grandfather’s Leica
PROJECT statement:
From an early life spent behind the lens, to years of professional documentary and commercial directing, it was the recent shift to film photography that inspired me to explore the evolution of my life and the purpose of creativity through a stills lens in this book project Me and My Grandfathers Leica.
What better tool for this journey than my grandfather’s Leica M6, discovered in a locked safe within my brother’s cluttered storage closet?
Chapter 1: KILIMANJARO A CHALLENGE
Growing up, altitude was my adversary. Ski trips were marred by altitude sickness, setting me apart from my siblings’. Seeking a challenge that would not only start the narrative of this book but also conclude my year on a high note, I turned to the mountains—Mt. Kilimanjaro just felt right. A mountain I always dreamed of climbing. The tallest mountain in Africa, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. So off I went.
Chapter 2: WHAT IS CREATIVITY?
Frankly after climbing a mountain, and capturing such a monumental occasion, I felt lost. I knew eventually I would have to go back to revisit my grandfathers photos but the timing didn’t feel right yet. I wanted to explore the world more. After months of aimless photography, and behind the scenes of my daily life I settled on photographing some inspirations of mine. Other artists that I hope I one day could strive to be more like. Many phone calls and emails, and I found the time and made the effort to meet these artists in their areas of work. To photograph them doing what they do best, and allow me to continue to be inspired, and share the story with others.
Chapter 3: Revisiting the past in my present
As I start to find the answer to creativity. I feel as though it’s the right move to start revisiting the history of the camera. From reviewing old negatives that my grandfather kept in incredible condition and well organized I found some images that I wanted to revisit. From time with family, to hikes in Austria, I went back to the placed my grandfather took photos and recaptured them in my own way.
Chapter 4: exploring my life
Photography has become a part of everyone’s life. Having a high resolution camera in everyone’s pocket has made us all photographers, and people tend to photograph the things that they are most afraid to loose. Prior to this project my photography mostly focused on travels and capturing experiences, but rarely focused on my daily life and work. Making a conscious effort to take a relevant photo in the days work I have found incredibly interesting and I explore the ways we all work in this chapter.
Chapter 5: Out my window
In this chapter, my journey through the lens continues, as I use my grandfather’s Leica M6 to document the shifting views that travel brings. There’s something comforting in the constant of the window frame, yet it’s the unfamiliar that excites me—the endless new landscapes, colors, and people that appear on the other side. Through this work, I aim to share how I see the world: ever-changing, yet grounded by the things that stay the same.
untold chapters
This project is currently underway. As I continue to explore creativity we might find more and more chapters. I leave the ending of the book blank as I continue to write and experience. Who knows what will come of it.
