Photographer Laura Helen Winn said she fell in love with photography when she picked up a 35 mm camera three years ago.
Hundreds of rolls of film later, Winn said she remains committed to classic methods of photography. She will present her first exhibit on the walls of a business that also treasures timeless beauty, St. Elmo’s vintage resale store Collective Clothing.
“I’m fascinated with the idea of documenting time in a 4 by 6 frame,” said Winn, who added that she was pleased to hang her first show in a shop that complements her passion for preserving the past.
Laura Helen Winn’s first photography exhibit will be on display at Collective Clothing in St. Elmo through the summer.
Winn said that the audience was her primary focus when she was hanging the show.
“I considered the kind of people who would be going (to the store),” said Winn. “I feel like I shoot pieces that people can relate to.”
A self-taught photographer, Winn said that most of her pieces are based on everyday items and real-life situations. She said she rarely uses models in her work unless she is hired to do portraits.
Winn said she will be shifting photographic gears this fall as she delves into her photography classes at UTC, where she is an art major focusing on photography and mixed media.
Winn said that her first formal photography class will be a departure from her documentary style, as the class will be conceptual and assignment-based. Winn will also begin to explore other methods of photography, namely digital, though she said it is not a priority for her to abandon her cherished film camera.
“With film I can control the grain, the light; I feel more of a sense of character,” said Winn, who explained that she likes the fact she cannot immediately see the compositions she has captured on a digital screen. “I feel it’s okay to mess up in film photography and learn from those mistakes.”
Winn said she is excited about her educational endeavors and expanding her role as a Chattanooga artist.
“There’s a growing group of artists,” said Winn, indicating people she has met while working on the Southside at Niedlov’s and the connections she has made through CreateHere. “It’s really growing, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
