Physical Extensions (2023)

I originally set out to document my late grandpa’s model train setup in his basement, as it’ll likely be gone by the end of the year. I wanted to photograph every inch of it, as this hobby of his was a big part of his life and my relationship with him. I took a bunch just as is, and admittedly got emotional after a while, so I decided to turn the overhead lights off and use my mini LED to get images with a different tone. I plopped the light right in the middle with minimal thought at first, and as I went to snap a random photo, I noticed the little guy waving to the light. Some might see him as a police officer, but I like thinking of him as the train conductor. And as silly as it may sound, it felt like my grandpa was giving me a sign that it’s alright to let go of this physical extension of himself.

The majority of my personal work is a response to my feelings about nostalgia and the passage of time, so it’s no shocker this session took a turn in this direction.

Saying goodbye is hard, and photos can’t bring anyone back or make up for lost time, but they certainly can be cathartic.