Taylor Staniforth

I use photography to remember my experiences when I travel. One of my favorite pieces is one that features a pelican on a pier. This is what others will see when they look at it. When I look at this piece, however, I see more than the pelican—I see (and feel) the memory of that day. I remember a clear image of my dad in a blue shirt sitting next to me on the dock catching bonefish, I remember the feeling of the warm sand underneath my feet, I remember the excitement watching a pelican stand perfectly still in front of me. I want to remember this joy. Travel has a great impact on my photography—much of who I am is shaped by the experiences I have traveling and living in different cities. My family still lives in my hometown of St. Louis, but I have now planted roots in Texas. Both mean a great deal to me. I have spent time on the East Coast, West Coast, sailing through the Caribbean, and exploring overseas. These are opportunities I do not take for granted. These experiences have broadened my view of the world and expanded the creativity within my work. I want to remember this passion. My hope is that when someone sees one of my pieces, they feel a connection with the emotion behind the photo. My hope is that perhaps it reminds them of an adventure in their own life, a past joy, passion, or other impactful feeling. My hope is that they know they want that piece in their home because it specifically speaks to them. I wrote that I use photography to remember, but isn’t this why we all take photos? I think the impulse to capture a fleeting moment; a tiny detail in a life that left an impact, connects us. We feel time moving and things changing and we want to remember a specific place as it was at a specific time. For me, I live in Fort Worth and I love this city. I love the people in this city and the small businesses that make it unique. In the next 20 years, Fort Worth may look completely different from the way it looks now and I have full confidence it will still be an amazing place to live. However, there’s something special about the city right now—amid all the exciting changes—that I want to remember.