This week’s Member Moment features work by Logan Edward Smith, who uses photography as a powerful tool to document. Scroll down to see his pictures and to read the interview!
PL: What got you interested in photography?
LES: I’ve always had a camera with me. Whether it’s for documentation of studio work, or a amalgamation of the spaces I’ve been or inhabited. What interests me about photography is the ability to capture, whatever has captured my attention in the moment, and to be able to share that vision with others.
PL: What type of camera do you shoot with?
PL: When taking pictures, what are some objects or elements or feelings within a scene that inspire you to take a photo?
LES: Choosing subject is entirely up to the situation I’m in. Often nature makes life easy, and is why I gravitate to it. You have a prominent point of interest (the largest mountain or the play of light on its ridge) generally being the place my eyes gravitate too. Wildlife is similar as the subject just needs to be framed, I find people and what’s surrounding them the most challenging, yet often most rewarding.
PL: Of the pictures you submitted, can you share an interesting story about one?
LES: Behind the camera in the panorama of the Ruby Mountains, were the two most redneck men I’ve ever encountered, drunk off their mind, proudly waving and showing off their pistols and 4 wheeler they rolled up in. It made for interesting if not unnerving conversation as I shot the scene. Though in some degree we all enjoying ourselves in nature, and their dogs were adorable.
PL: What do you enjoy most about digital/film photography and what is challenging about it?
Films biggest advantage is the mechanical quality of its cameras, I love taking them apart, cleaning and feeling everything tick as you use them.
When everything lines up and you know you did everything right you get photos with a wonderful quality. But coming from digital, so many things can and do go wrong.
I want a digital camera with the mechanism of a 1960s mechanical camera. That’s my dream.
PL: Do you have any goals or ideas of how you want to grow this collection of photographs?
And of course to continue my documentation of where I am and where I’m going.
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