Stefon Grant creates beautiful work that’s close to the heart
When I look at Stefon Grant’s photography, I see notes of unity, notes of vulnerability, notes of tenderness and notes of strength. Each frame is like a small ode to humanity; they capture what it’s like to exist in this world.
I’m a firm believer that all photographers should photograph those closest to us. It’s friends and family that support our journey through life, and yet many of us prefer to go far and wide to seek out our subjects.
That’s why I’m really into the personal work Grant is creating. He’s keeping it close to home and close to his heart.
It’s not easy photographing our loved ones. There’s often barriers put in the way and Grant has done a wonderful job of bringing them down – his images feel so natural and unforced.
I caught up with him to lean more about his personal style, his love for the darkroom and why his personal work is exclusively in black and white.
Them Frames: Your first experience with a camera was with a DSLR. However, you soon switched to using analog cameras instead. Why is that?
Stefon Grant: I remember going to an exhibition at Tate Modern in 2013. It was a joint exhibition of William Klein and Daido Moriyama. I remember at that time I was heavy into using photoshop and enhancing my photos and treating them more like works of art rather than documenting or appreciating a moment as it is - which I began to love later.
After seeing the rawness of the documentary photography at that exhibition, that really inspired me. I was just starting art school at London College of Communication at the time and they had a black and white darkroom and I think I remember one of my tutors recommending that I try it out.
All these moments lined up with discovering there were unused analog cameras at my youth club. My mentor said I could check them out and borrow them. After trying them out I fell in love with the whole process. I like the organicness of it, how it slows me down. The tactileness of having a negative after shooting, going to make a print and the chemistry. I could go on and on!
Them Frames: Talk to us about your personal work. What inspires you to shoot a specific subject?
Stefon Grant: My work mostly features my friends and family because that’s who I feel most comfortable around. I like to shoot candidly and not feel like I’m bothering the person I’m photographing.
Also I like to capture someone or something in its natural element. I think my subjects will be a combination of things that I find visually pleasing like the way light will hit an object or face. Or it could be any place or thing that makes me feel a certain way. I believe it could be past experiences and personal connections that inspire me to photograph something.
Them Frames: What type of photographer are you: do you prefer to plan or shoot freely and go with the flow?
Stefon Grant: I usually prefer to shoot freely and go with the flow. But actually going forward I want to start planning more.
Them Frames: I see a lot of moments of human connection in your work. Why is this something you gravitate towards?
Stefon Grant: I think maybe I like to photograph people when they are most relaxed. And when they are with others they may forget about the camera or feel less intimidated by it because they aren’t alone.
Them Frames: A lot of your commission work is in color, your personal work is exclusively black and white; why is that?
Stefon Grant: I love shooting in black and white. I have a black and white darkroom where I go to make prints. When making a print, I believe that is the ultimate result. A lot of time and effort goes into them so I tend to only make prints of photographs I have a personal connection with and that I really care about.
So I love going from start to finish with photographing and then making a print. Maybe one day I will have access to a color darkroom and do the same with color film. But I do like the classic feel that black and white gives.
My commission work is more in color because that’s what people ask for and I shoot it mostly digital. Most clients want things done fast and that’s different compared to how I like to treat my personal work.
Them Frames: If you could choose one song to be the soundtrack to your work, what would it be and why?
Stefon Grant: 2Pac - Temptations (Instrumental): Because it feels soulful and I can close my eyes and think of snapshots of meaningful life moments. It feels like going through a journey of life and loving it. It has a soulfulness about it, I like my work to have that as well.
Them Frames: Please finish this sentence: I need photography in my life because…
Stefon Grant: I can use it as a device to appreciate life more.
Them Frames speaks with the very talented street photographer Debrani Das.