Nastasia Lawton-Sticklor

photography

There’s something mesmerizing about composing a shot. It slows us down, forces us to view our subjects through the tunnel of a viewfinder, and builds a relationship with what we see. And, just as in any relationship, there is elation – perfect crisp focus, a split-second captured, or breathtaking beauty; and heartbreak – an overexposure, a fuzzy blur, or color that just won’t balance. Within this range, the subtleties of how we make sense of our lives and the world around us comes through. I use photography in my work as a researcher to help people tell stories and produce their own narratives that transcend simply responding to someone else’s questions. I try to create space for young photographers to practice the mindfulness that comes with composing an image that tells an authentic story. In my own work, my photographs explore spaces and things that are subtle, and often invisible, in the rush of everyday life. I am drawn to long exposures, infrared light, and super macro because all three force me to become slow and mindful as I work to tell my own story through what is not obviously visible.