ARTS
In conversation with Brookhaven photographer Branden May Reporter Newspapers talked to May about his work and where his interest in photography stems from. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
BY SAMMIE PURCELL Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people have quit their jobs and changed careers – including Branden May. May worked at a small tech company up until August of last year. He quit in part to better spend time with his family and take care of his son, who was diagnosed with autism, but also to focus on his real passion – photography. While the Brookhaven artist had over 15 years of experience and had been interested in photography since he was a kid, this change meant taking on photography as a fulltime gig. May’s work focuses on architecture, taking in the way light and shadows interact with the spaces around them. His work has been featured at several galleries internationally, according to his website, including the Agora Gallery in New York City; the BBA Gallery in Berlin, Germany; and the Blank Wall Gallery in Athens, Greece.
Where in Atlanta did you grow up? Branden May: I actually grew up in Stone Mountain. How did you become interested in photography? BM: My dad was actually into photography, and he got me into it when I was 12 – maybe a little bit younger than that. I do remember him showing me a camera and I kind of just fell in love with it from there. As far as your own career with photography, when did you decide that you wanted to make it a career? Branden May’s photography focuses on architecture, taking in the way light and shadows interact with the spaces around them. (Images courtesy of Branden May)
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BM: I quit my job last August … it’s always been kind of in process, the photography thing and trying to go full time. But I think over the pandemic, and having all my kids at home, and the job that I was working at the wasn’t really understanding that I had a son with autism … That kind of pushed me over there towards photography – my last job and having no freedom to be a dad, or be a good husband, or a photographer. What do you photograph the most?
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BM: Right now, I’m currently doing street photography, but architecture photography is probably my favorite. Especially here in Atlanta, growing up here, I kind of feel like I have a personal relationship with the buildings … I just feel like I connect to them in a different way than other people. I know where the sun is going to be, where the reflections and shadows will fall. What is it about the combination of shadow and structure that interests you? BM: It’s the silhouettes. I kind of try to capture people interacting with the building in different ways, whether it’s just walking by [or] going to the actual building. It’s really just the combination of the structure of the buildings and the person walking through a shadow or walking through a pocket of light that kind of completes the scene for me. Who are some artists that inspire you? BM: Gordon Parks… I was just taken aback
20 MARCH 2022 | REPORTER NEWSPAPERS
by how he captured scenes and how some of them were portraits, some of them were just scenes that he’d been assigned to for Time Magazine. But the way that he shot and the way that he draws you in, maybe even think about whatever the subject is thinking about in the picture, kind of led me to photography even more. Berenice Abbott is another photographer whose work I’ve been told is similar to mine. We kind of share a relationship between shadows and people. She’s really great. Louis Mendes. He’s another shoot photographer in New York, like years ago. He is also one of the main influences of my work.
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