MEDIUM /// PHOTOGRAPHY

Keith Walters is a digital and film photographer and co-owner of The Gallery. This is his first time taking over the visiting artist wall with his work. Here’s a bit about his show “The Polaroid Project”:

“This year I achieved a goal that’s been on my bucket list for almost 20 years: a “365 Project.” A 365 Project can take many forms, but for photographers it involves taking one image per day for an entire year.

So, why did it take me two decades to start? Mostly fear and doubt in my ability to find something interesting enough each day to photograph for an entire year. The perfectionist in me really only wants to share the best photos I make—this calendar is the ultimate manifestation of that mindset.

But the medium I chose—Polaroid (yes, remember those?)—is inherently imperfect, and that allowed me to embrace each frame for what it was. An uneven chemical application? Totally fine. Something mundane from everyday life? That’s OK—I got to watch the picture literally APPEAR IN MY HAND!

The analog nature of this medium also allowed me to let down my guard a bit and be more intentional about how I approached each subject. The biggest takeaway for me with this project: get out of your comfort zone, create for the sake of creating, and you will find growth that otherwise wasn’t possible.”