Since his early teens, photographer Larry Smith has honed his technical skills, making them second nature, which has allowed him to focus on thoughtful observation and intuition. In doing so, he seizes on compositional opportunities many others dismiss or are oblivious to. Nothing is overtly spectacular about Smith’s chosen subjects. In fact, they are scenes, scenarios, and places we likely encounter every day. What is remarkable is his ability to glean from the ordinary an image worthy of consideration.

Smith’s knack for being in the right place at the right time coupled with his ability to recognize, compose, and capture an image in a fraction of a second is a combination that takes decades to perfect. His black and white photographs record what it is to be human—documenting the simple pleasure of family and friends, isolation in a world filled with others, moments of melancholy, and the monotony that fills the gaps.

Bio

Larry Smith (b. 1951) has lived in Abilene, Texas his entire life, but his photographs capture a broad range of subjects and locations. He first became interested in photography while helping his older brother develop high school yearbook photos. As an adult, he worked at Keaton Kolor, the Abilene photo lab, from 1973-1990, but never pursued fine art photography as a profession. With the exception of a solo show at the Center for Contemporary Arts in his hometown in the mid-1970s, Smith has not exhibited his work. For him, the act of creating is motivation enough.

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