Chris Harris

Artist Interview: Chris Harris

Alina Rios: Do you have to be in the mood to take photographs? Does your mood affect what you capture?

Chris Harris: Once I am out with a camera and looking for images, my mood, whatever it may have been, drifts away. It's pretty easy for me to get into the zone. Everything I see suddenly becomes a photo. Having said that, mood definitely can be a blocker for the motivation to actually get out. I have learned that I need to be intentional and sometimes force myself out. I don't think mood necessarily affects what I capture, but it does have impact on how I capture or how the processing turns out. I seem to be drawn to the extremes—it’s either vividly colorful or dark degradation.  

AR: What is your favorite thing to photograph?

CH: There's no standout favorite, though I do notice I have a lot of shots of clouds and water.

AR: What was your first camera, and, if you remember, photo?

CH: Most photographers of my age likely started on film cameras in school. I had an Instamatic type film camera as a kid, but my exposure to film was limited. Consumer digital cameras started to become accessible in the late ’90s and I was drawn to them for web design work I was doing at the time. Even though it was pretty limited, I consider the Kodak DC 260 to be my first "real" camera. That was definitely the camera that got me hooked. I think the first image from it was of my steering wheel in the Fry’s Electronics parking lot. 

AR: Why is photography the creative medium that works best for you?

CH: I've found that there is a strong tinkerer's spirit that comes with taking photos. There aren't any rules, there are suggestions in composition and technical camera operation but, at the end of the day, you can make do through experimentation. Over the years I have essentially taught myself by trying things out and seeing what the results are. It's playing around to hopefully create something interesting. Photography can also be a very gear-geek endeavor and that certainly taps into something within my psyche. 

AR: How did the pandemic affect your work?

CH: I hadn't been actively taking photos for a few years leading up to the pandemic. So it didn't necessarily have a direct effect. But I think I, like a lot of people, were starkly reminded of the fragility of life and the importance of taking care of ourselves and the things that are important to us. As the world started to normalize into this new way of being, I've tried to be a bit more selfish and focus more on activities, like photography, that bring me joy.  

AR: What is one thing that helps you stay inspired when the world is in such a dire state? (Be as specific as possible.)

CH: I don't know that I would call it inspiration, but I feel it is important that we document the world around us. We are here today in whatever circumstance we are in. But always and anywhere we are, there is something interesting or beautiful or unique to look at. It may not be here tomorrow—the current moment will pass. When I point my camera, my goal is to preserve the uniqueness of that moment for myself and others, creating a memory for the future.

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