Capturing Birmingham: a dialog with photographer Mary Fehr

Mary Fehr’s pictures is instantly recognizable, and in some ways has turn into synonymous along with her hometown of Birmingham. Fehr is a grasp at elevating the on a regular basis, whether or not she’s capturing a romance, a chef within the kitchen, or a fleeting second between buddies. Her pictures don’t simply present what’s in entrance of the lens; they present the guts of the folks and locations that make up the Magic City.

Based in Birmingham, Fehr has constructed a mode that blends documentary realism with editorial polish, formed by her love of artwork historical past, sculpture, and portray, and by a deep funding within the metropolis’s inventive group. Her work is about presence and connection; Fehr captures folks and locations with intimacy and curiosity.

Editor Holly Swafford sat down with Mary Fehr to speak in regards to the beginnings of her pictures profession, the town that continues to encourage her, and the people-first strategy that guides her work.

How did you first come to pictures?

My mother was all the time actually into pictures. I’ve three sisters, and at each household occasion it was all the time my mother along with her digicam, documenting every thing. Sometimes it felt annoying to have so many photographs of the identical factor, however as you become old—and folks begin passing—you understand these pictures are every thing. If my mother hadn’t taken these footage, these moments could be gone. I really like having bins of her photographs now.

In highschool, I used to be on the newspaper employees and actually loved taking footage of my buddies and on a regular basis life, but it surely was informal. When I went to varsity at Montevallo, I didn’t know what I wished to do. I signed up for a pictures class on the final minute, and my professor, Karen Graffeo, actually pushed me to maintain going. Photography appears like that generally—like one thing that’s given to you as a present.

I ended up getting my diploma in artwork with a photograph focus. I cherished artwork historical past and artwork pictures, particularly working with movie. At the identical time, I used to be working a number of restaurant jobs and began aiding different photographers—one wedding ceremony photographer and one business photographer. When I graduated, I slowly began constructing my enterprise, and on the finish of 2017 I satisfied myself to strive pictures full time. It was scary not having a backup plan, however I felt actually fortunate to have the ability to take that leap.

How would you describe your visible fashion to somebody encountering your work for the primary time?

I describe my fashion as a mixture of documentary and editorial, with a colourful, contrasting punch. I studied numerous artwork historical past in faculty, and I’m actually influenced by Greek and Roman sculpture—the boldness, the shape—and by painters like John Singer Sargent, who’s my favourite. There’s a lot emotion and depth in that work.

I additionally took trend pictures lessons and went to New York Fashion Week, which I cherished, and I studied documentary pictures too. I’m actually drawn to photojournalism, however I’ve such a delicate coronary heart that I don’t know if I might all the time stay impartial. So I feel my work lives someplace in between: documentary moments with the path and intention of an editorial shoot.

Visually, I need issues to really feel actual however elevated. I like coloration and distinction. I don’t need my work to really feel too tender or ethereal—I need it to really feel enjoyable, daring, and trustworthy.

Birmingham has a definite sense of place—how does the town affect the way in which you see and {photograph}?

Birmingham has such a wealthy and deep historical past, and far of it isn’t optimistic. But on the similar time, the group right here is so vibrant. The individuals are unimaginable—meals, drink, trend, occasions, visible arts. There are so many proficient folks right here doing precisely what they love and constructing group round it.

I stay in a historic dwelling that’s over 100 years previous, and I really like excited about all of the life that’s been lived inside these partitions—individuals who laughed and cried and had buddies over for dinner. There’s one thing actually grounding about being in a spot that has existed for thus lengthy. I really feel that approach about discovered objects, too—one thing that mattered to another person and now will get to stay a brand new life with me.

Birmingham appears like that to me. You can’t erase what’s occurred right here. It bears witness. There’s a lot historical past layered into on a regular basis life, and being surrounded by that makes me extra conscious, extra current. The metropolis feeds me creatively due to its folks and its sense of continuity.

Food pictures is a novel stability of storytelling and restraint. How do you strategy it?

Weddings and occasions got here first for me, however meals pictures began across the similar time by means of work with Birmingham Magazine. I used to be capturing dishes and recipes, and I used to be additionally photographing my very own meals simply because I cherished it. It grew to become this ripple impact—the extra I shared, the extra folks reached out.

Food must be visually interesting, after all—colourful, daring, distinct—but it surely’s additionally such an artwork. Who is the particular person behind this dish? Who is it for? What does this place really feel like? I’m all the time attempting to seize the vibe of the house, not only a “nice, clean picture.”

Food is such an enormous a part of Southern tradition, and particularly Birmingham’s tradition. When folks ask what there may be to do right here, the reply is all the time: do you prefer to eat or drink? Because we’ve unimaginable cooks and bartenders. But what excites me most is the story behind the meals. Whoever is making it—that’s their coronary heart they’re exhibiting you. It doesn’t must be good or pristine. Mess is human, and that issues to me.

When you’re photographing folks, do you’ve gotten any methods or recommendation to assist them really feel snug?

It’s a very large deal to me that individuals really feel snug and low stress. I strive to enter each shoot with a heat, open, welcoming vitality. A handshake and a smile go a great distance—it’s a approach of claiming, “We’re doing this together.”

I ease into the shoot by making small discuss and simply being current. I need folks to really feel like I’m simply hanging out with them, digicam included. Curiosity is every thing. If you’re open and also you hear, folks actually wish to let you know who they’re, and I wish to know learn how to present that visually.

Recently, I used to be photographing a cotton farm in North Alabama for an task and anticipated it to be fast. Instead, the farmer drove me round his land for hours, shared snacks, informed me tales, and invited me again for lunch one other day. It changed into the most effective days of my pictures life. That solely occurred as a result of I used to be open to letting the interplay unfold.

I preserve a verse on my mirror that claims to not simply fake to like folks, however to essentially love them. That stays with me. At the top of the day, we’re all the identical. Being current and genuinely caring adjustments every thing.

How has your work developed since constructing your profession right here, and what classes has Birmingham taught you as a photographer?

Community has formed every thing for me. Birmingham’s inventive group is unimaginable, but it surely must be fed. Some folks have to remain and spend money on it. There’s a lot expertise right here, and whereas that may really feel intimidating, there’s additionally a lot work to go round due to how wealthy the town is creatively.

I’ve realized that group doesn’t simply occur—you must construct it. I’ve began internet hosting gatherings, inviting folks collectively, creating the form of house I all the time wished rising up. Nobody cares if issues are good. They simply wish to really feel welcomed and cherished and know there’s a seat on the desk.

Art is about connection. Making buddies. Bringing folks collectively. That’s been one of many largest classes Birmingham has taught me.

Do you’ve gotten a favourite topic to {photograph}?

I really like capturing meals, and I get pleasure from weddings, however what I really like most is photographing folks doing their factor—environmental portraits. Seeing somebody of their factor tells you a lot about who they’re.

That began in faculty for me, photographing professors at work or artists of their studios. I really like asking folks questions past “what do you do?” Who are you exterior of your job? What do you’re keen on? Those portraits really feel probably the most significant to me.

Looking forward, what sorts of tales or tasks are you most excited to inform subsequent?

I’m engaged on a present and a e book of my private determine work, which feels actually vital to me. I’m additionally dreaming a couple of venture photographing Birmingham cooks of their dwelling kitchens—documenting who they’re exterior of labor, cooking a meal they love, and telling their story by means of that.

I think about it as a espresso desk e book with portraits, recipes, and interviews. Food is such an enormous a part of Birmingham’s tradition, and the individuals who make it are simply as vital because the dishes themselves. And that’s a narrative I actually wish to inform.