Photography offers a lot to society. It can educate us, humor us and so much more. In this interview with Bryan Esler, we look at how photography can settle and center us, especially before potentially stressful events.

Airports can be an odd place. From people drinking beer at breakfast to people losing their minds at security, Airports are a different world. Almost everyone is anxious for one reason or another. And, even though flying is the safest form of public transport, we all have that “but what if…” floating somewhere in our mind. The whole experience can feel like the center of a storm.

A team at Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford International Airport recognized the need to help people find a sense of calm before flying. That’s when the idea of a sensory room was born. 

The goal with the sensory room was to create a space where passengers could come relax, grasp the basics of commercial aviation and prepare for their flight. To help manifest a calming feeling, the team wanted to include photography within the room - that’s where Esler enters the story.

His photograph, Michigan Meditation, was selected to complement the other elements within the room. As you’ll see, it’s a large-scale print, one that took some work to get ready for the project. With that, we were curious about the work that went into the project, especially Esler’s role from a photographic perspective.

He was happy to answer some of our questions… 

Them Frames: Hello Bryan! Can you tell us how you first became involved with the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Sensory Room?

Bryan Esler: I had had a relationship with the airport prior to this project, mainly with capturing photos of some of their new art pieces in their new, expanded terminal. There was an RFQ put out last year, and I applied. At the time they were just looking for painted murals, but let me know there’d be photography opportunities later on.

I was contacted in early 2024 about the possibility of using one of my photos for a new sensory room that was being built, also located inside the new terminal. There were two photographers they were looking at for this, with me being one of them. I was told that they wanted a calming, relaxing scene. I sent over a few beach photos, but also some forest and woodsy types of photos too, that I thought could work in the space.

Them Frames: Did you make your photograph specifically for the project or was it one you had already made? Either way, what was the reasoning behind using this particular shot for the sensory room?

Bryan Esler: The photograph was made in 2021, so it wasn’t made specifically for the space at the time. The design team behind the sensory room liked this shot because it really worked well for the space, allowing them to put a makeshift fire pit so it looked like you were relaxing on the beach.

For the photo nerds out there, it was shot with a Sony a7 III camera, and Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art lens.

Them Frames: For anyone unaware, what is a sensory room and what role does photography play in a room like this?

Bryan Esler: A sensory room is a space where guests at the airport can both relax and learn more about the traveling process. The Grand Rapids sensory room has four main spaces, one of which allows visitors to practice boarding a plane. They can do things like walking down the jet bridge, putting their luggage overhead, and buckling up. It’s great for people who have never flown before, those with disabilities, or just anyone who might be a nervous flyer.

Them Frames: This seems to be a team effort. Can you share who else worked on the project and what the process of collaboration was like to bring it all together?

Bryan Esler: There were a few other groups involved in putting this space together. Katie Moore was my go-to contact with the entire project; she’s also a client of mine at a different organization, too. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport staff was involved as well, and finally, the design team at HKS that put everything together and handled installation.

As the specific photograph was chosen, I worked with the design team to tweak it slightly so it fit better in the space. I used Topaz Photo AI to increase the size of it (as it was originally taken on a Sony a7 III, it was not at all large enough for a massive wall). This also included cleaning up a few areas in the photograph, removing a distracting sign, and darkening it so it would work better for the darker space. The design team also embedded small lights that change brightness, which represented fireflies.

Them Frames: Did this project teach you anything about how photography can evolve? At least in how we deliver and consume the art form?

Bryan Esler: Having been my first large-scale installation, I definitely learned a lot here about the process and what’s all involved. But I also learned that photography can be more than just a pretty picture to be viewed. It can help calm someone. It can help them get ready for a journey that they might be otherwise unprepared for. It can play a vital role in a person’s experience at a place. I think if we can create with intention, that we’ll continue to see more of this type of work in the future.

Them Frames: You describe this as your first public large scale photography installation. What did it feel like seeing it once it was up and running and how has it inspired your creative goals for the future?

Bryan Esler: I was able to see the installation a day before the grand opening event. That was important to me, as it allowed me to show my parents and to experience it by myself. First off, this installation is huge. I was in total awe that it took up an entire wall. What’s more important is that my photograph is just a part of the experience of this space. From the fire pit to the fireflies, it really makes an entire scene, rather than just seeing a nice photograph on a wall.

Following this, I went to the drawing board, and I have a few things in the works for future large installations. Maybe not on a near-40 foot wide wall, but I want my work to be seen. As an event photographer, that doesn’t happen all the time. So being able to take my passion for landscape photography and render that into something different is important to me. It helps expand my creativity for the future.

You can see more work by Bryan Esler by visiting his website and Instagram. You can also read the official press release for the project.

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