Today we’d like to introduce you to Henry Cary-Williams.
Hi Henry, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve lived in many cities; my life isn’t made up of one place, but the act of moving between them. At this point, I cannot distinguish the origin of my memories; they’re all convoluted blurs. A state of constant motion has allowed me never to settle nor stagnate: both a gift and a burden.
I’ve learned to immerse myself in places, not just at them, and absorb the poetic soul of each moment. Developing these visual records helps clarity emerge in the chaos, where the world, even for an instant, makes sense.
I create photographs of quiet revelation. Of the mundane familiar and its visual elegance.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
While a life of cultural exposure is certainly one of privilege and fortune, it’s also a life of emotional detachment and transitory feelings. You cannot find peace in it unless you’re willing to let friends and experiences constantly fade into memories.
In a cycle of fresh unfamiliarity, I am always a guest in other people’s lives and routines, forever on the outside looking in. I have no neighborhood that remembers me with substance, no coffee shop that knows my name, or room that holds my past. I exist only in my mind, and take it all with me.
It becomes lonely; no emotional anchors or feelings of permanence. But this is where my art comes from.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am working on making sense of the journey: unfixed, fleeting, honest. Creating visuals allows me to see the beauty in impermanence.
I create images of visual catharsis; images that calm me. Visually or conceptually, my photographs are always symmetrical, patterned, or meticulously organized.
I initially enjoyed sourcing these feelings from documentary photography: street portraits, architecture, or candid moments. When these uncontrollable circumstances compose themselves into an emotional structure, I need to remember it.
Now, I extend my technique into fashion editorials, still lives, and other arranged photographs. I realize that the virtues of images that drive me can be found in many places, including both the street and the studio.
I continue to search for the feelings that matter to me and focus less on what kind of images I am creating.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
If I went back in time and fixed what I deemed as every mistake I ever made, I would end up erasing myself in the process. Risks are never guaranteed to feel successful; regardless, they make you who you are. I see no other way toward growth than through discomfort.
I felt the most scared when I started at my second high school, on the other side of the country, and decided to apply for student government. I knew no one there and felt like a complete impostor. However, if it wasn’t for my campaigning and school-political advertising, I would never have realized how much I enjoyed leading and doing my work. This passion for self-guided art led me to pursue photography instead of a business degree. I wanted to be in charge of my creative future, and decided to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design. I was terrified to disregard what felt like a secure future, to forfeit a financially practical degree for a path of uncertainty.
However, it is the uncertain path that leads to the infinite one as well, and with that, I’ve learned to absorb every opportunity that comes my way. I spent almost three months of summer working as a photographer in the Adirondacks, isolated from any friends, family, or comfort. Would I do this again? Probably not. Was it essential for my photographic journey and understanding of myself as an individual? Absolutely.
Risks make us realize who we are and what it is we’re meant to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.henrycarywilliams.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henryalfson/
Image Credits
henrycarywilliams.com
