I am a thinker, designer, and writer, with a passion for seeing the world through the lens of a camera. I take pleasure in admiring the most subtle moments and delicacies of life. There is nothing more beautiful and profound than understanding what each person experiences in his or her own life is unique, personal, and sacred.
I love being close to people of all backgrounds, learning their culture, language, and habits. To me, people are the most important subjects of my studies. The artifacts we craft, the emotions we experience, and the modes of communication we invoke to tell a story are endlessly fascinating.
Over the years, I have put down my digital camera to take back to my roots as a film photographer. I learned how to make images on film, and now I exclusively shoot silver gelatin because it strips my practice to its essence. Only a handful of images on this site were shot on a digital camera. While I may sacrifice pixels for visible grain in my images, I find the film workflow is more desirable. It keeps me from needlessly editing and critiquing my work while I’m out shooting, and it focuses my thoughts on my subject, and the light. Pure photography — that’s what I’m here for!
My favorite camera is a Leica M6 rangefinder, which I use to capture moments happening all around me. Armed with some Kodak Tri-X, I enjoy photographing live music downtown on 6th street, passersby at Auditorium shores, disc golfers at Zilker Park, dogs and their humans at Barton Springs, and mundane objects and people from all walks of life all along the way. I update my photo blog regularly, with images captured from my daily walks and interactions.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my photography. You are an inspiration for me to keep doing what I do!
—William Paul Wentzell