R. W. Lesmeister

For as long as I can remember…

I’ve been obsessed with American history, documentary, and art. As a Romanian adoptee, I’ve spent every day grateful for the opportunity and freedom to express myself through mediums such as visual art, music, photography, poetry, and others.

Growing up, my dad was our family’s documentarian, taking home videos with his clunky Sears Solid State VHS Movie Camera and capturing moments with various 35mm & digital cameras. I can still vividly remember my grandparents’ homes as a child where I’d spend hours looking through rolodex-style photo albums and books, inciting stories of their best memories with friends and loved ones I’d only ever know through photos. Whenever I found myself at my dad’s office growing up, he’d sit me down in front of an old typewriter where I’d peck at the keys to keep me out of trouble.

Throughout my life, I’ve always been drawn to technology that documents; cameras, typewriters, dictaphones, and others. Whether it’s the design, lasting build quality, or desire to resist the digital world as a millennial who remembers growing up during the digital revolution, I don’t know. Upon deeper reflection, I think it’s often the challenge of working within the technological constraints of these various tools, which often drives creativity. These days, I also welcome any craft that gets me outside and allows me to disconnect for a while.

My intention with photography specifically is to document moments of every-day life in America (or wherever else I am) using much of the technology I grew up with and still cherish today. Thus blending film and digital as seen through the lens of… whatever’s in my hand.