“Texas”

The “Texas” project began a few summers ago, when I was going back to visit family during summer vacations. Every summer, my boys and I now take whatʼs turned into our annual summer trip visiting my parents and sister and her family, who live outside of Ft. Worth. While there, we go to water parks, spend time grilling in the backyard, and have the regular Sunday-afternoon water volleyball tournament in the parents’ pool. 

With this series, I want to highlight my family and friends. After spending the past 20 years working as a photographer, being sent around the world to photograph culturally relevant stories for magazines and brands, I found it felt really good turning the camera toward the people closest to me. I also find that photographing my two boys as they grow up helps build their self-confidence. My oldest son, Oli, is in high school for musical theater, and my youngest, Izi, is excelling at various styles of dance at a local dance school in Brooklyn.

These photos represent a quieter approach, which feels more where Iʼm at right now. This is a more self-reflective time. Iʼm not using flash, as I traditionally have in my commercial work. Iʼm making a lot of portraits where the people’s faces are covered in shadow. Iʼm not illuminating the details in the photograph the way I used to. Iʼm wanting the viewer to have to look closer and take more time with the image. Everything isnʼt in plain sight. —Brian Finke