Laird Bindrim

Astrological Sign

Sagittarius

A Favorite Quote

“You are at your best, when things are at their worst”, David Bowie, from his role in the 1976 film The Man Who Fell To Earth

Photographic Influences

Like most of us, I just flat out like looking at photographs. Family snapshots, to the works of past and present masters of the medium, they all have something to say. I enjoy trying to figure out what that is and to learn from it. If I had to give an example of an individual that I greatly admire, it would be Walker Evans. His ability to see the innate design in everyday subject matter is inspiring.

Photographic Education

For the most part... self taught. Even though I have had a formal education and received degrees in photography and design, I strongly believe that reading and experience are still the best teachers. I started very young, by the age of 10, I had already constructed my first makeshift darkroom and was happily developing and printing the B/W film I took with my trusty Argus C3. During that time I read everything I could concerning photography and followed the adage of “try to make each roll, better than the last”

Current Reading Material

At the moment, “Catalogue of the Universe” by Paul Murdin and David Allen. Rather outdated(1979), but still a concise, well written book on astronomy and man’s observations of the universe.

Recent Photographic Project

American Homes

Most Interesting Assignment or Previous Occupation?

All assignments are interesting, but this one stands out as it took 3 years to complete. As the principle photographer for Saint Joseph’s University, I was given the responsibility to photograph all of the stained glass windows within the churches of The Archdiocese of Philadelphia. This resulted in an archive of just over 50,000 images. Of those, 880 were selected to produce the book “Stained Glass in Catholic Philadelphia”, ©2002 Saint Joseph’s University Press. The book received a grant from The National Endowment for the Arts and several national publication awards. A most difficult, but rewarding project. To this day whenever I walk into a church my eyes just automatically fixate on the windows!

Project Statement

“American Homes” is part of a larger group of images I’m attempting to create on American iconography. The ultimate goal is an assemblage of photography representing things that appear to be unique to American culture.