Over ten years ago, I switched my studio completely over from film to digital. Digital photography was at the time very new, and practically unheard of. Many told me at conventions that I was making a mistake. But during that time, I went through the family’s old photographs and created this piece of my Grandpa Tony, who died long before I was born.
When people saw this, they flipped, and many asked me to create mosaics like this of their loved ones. This started a new product line here at Cox Studio that I called the Cox Timepiece.
Just recently, my dad and others organized a Cox Reunion, for all Cox descendants going back to my Grandpa Tony’s grandpa, and down; something that hadn’t happened in about 20 years. I was asked to restore many old photographs for my dad and others, so they could be on display at the reunion.
For myself, I went back and found this mosaic in my archives and reprinted it again, as digital printing has improved leaps and bounds over the past 10 years.
When I pulled it up on my screen, I was expecting to make some major changes since I myself have grown in my design and digital abilities over the past decade. However, I didn’t make a single change. I was not only impressed with the design, but I just I loved looking at these photographs all over again.
I love the photograph on the right with his tie blowing in the wind, the hunting photo, the suits, the smile….
…and in the bottom left, this vacation photo of my grandparents on the Golden Gate Bridge, dressed for fun. Isn’t this beautiful? I love the composition, the posing, the clothes, the paper, and the quality of this image.
I think there is a resemblance too in the family line. Here’s a recent photo I did of myself here at my studio for comparison.
Looking at these images, I’m reminded of the importance of photographs as heirlooms. Now more than ever, we’re being bombarded with cheap pictures and the ability to share and see them without ever printing a one. Those serve a purpose, but the quality isn’t there. And nothing replaces the ability to hold a photograph in your hand.
These old photographs of my grandpa, though many were snap shots, have a sense of quality, of lighting, and of composition. They tell a story and were printed so well that they’ve lasted generations.
One of my favorite parts of my job is the final delivery where people can handle and hold their photographs. Up until then, everything is viewed digitally. But in the final delivery — after the retouching, the printing, the mounting and glazing and any other artwork is done — in the final delivery, there something tangible. And with that tangible photograph comes an indescribable palatable feeling that only comes in being able to hold and appreciate a photograph, a feeling that doesn’t exist when seeing an image on a phone or computer screen, no matter how great it is.
If you’d like to see more of my work, or commission me to do a photograph for you, give me a call at 801-728-3317 and check out my website at BryCox.com.