Photo: Art by Everett Crichton
Everett Crichton is a photographer specializing in nature photography and portraits. As a senior at Evergreen, he has had multiple years to capture what makes Olympia special—and based on the extensive nature of his portfolio, has taken every opportunity to do so. His move from Seattle doesn’t mark a significant distance travelled, but it does signify a major shift in his environment. Once locked into the humdrum alleys of sprawling cityscape, his new natural surroundings have provided a different perspective to frame and freeze in time. The following conversation is a glimpse into the framing of Everett’s artistic mind.
What is it about photography that makes it special to you, as a means of artistic expression?
“I have a background in two-dimensional art and drawing; that’s what I did in high school. Composition as a still image is something that I think about a lot. In high school I was taught about the elements and principles of design for three years. I think about those concepts and ideas and I try to apply them to reality.”
Enlighten me on what that transfer process is when you see a subject. What goes through your mind that allows you to transfer real life into those design principles?
“Well, I notice the light quality in relation to the spectrum a lot. I think about tone. I think about the way the colors mesh, and how they contrast or conflict with each other.”
“I also think about lines; they’re more important than one might think. They separate things from other things, and that’s a big part of art: different subjects and how they relate to each other.”
Many of your photographs involve nature to some extent. Can you explain to me the components that you find compelling about nature as a subject?
“The fact that it has been there before me and will be there after me—and is here with me now.”
“Reading Henry David Thoreau has had a huge influence on that in particular. I find a lot of inspiration from his works, as well as transcendentalism in general.”
Who do you see yourself growing into as an artist? What are some of your future aspirations?
“I see myself shifting from a realm of imagination into a realm of reality. My shift in focus towards the hard sciences and employment has made me shift more towards reality, the hardships of life, and the value of community.”
“As an artist I see myself moving towards more of the ‘realist’ camp as opposed to romanticism. I still find myself imagining scenes that I want to emulate, but just can’t. So instead I have tried to focus on capturing real life.”
What sorts of things do you wish you could capture, but you haven’t been able to?
“I would really like to capture aspects of urban life, and just more humans in general. I want to capture people’s lives—capture people’s realities.”
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to see more and more of the patterns of reality. As a result of that, I can empathize with people better; especially the adult condition. Historically, that’s been something I’ve always struggled with. But as I’ve shifted towards being an adult and understanding everything involved, I’ve been able to empathize with it a lot more. That increase in empathy has led me to being more interested in capturing those sorts of elements.”
It’s interesting that you talk about growth as a means of understanding the world differently. What are some of the transitions that have allowed you to perceive those patterns in a new way?
“The biggest transition involves me traveling to less privileged parts of the world—Guatemala, Belize, even parts of rural Washington.”
“I volunteered at an orphanage in Belize and that really opened my eyes. It made me realize the amount of things I just expected to be universal but are not. Seeing it first hand really hammered in that not everywhere has good living conditions, or plumbing, or healthcare, or good school systems—or education at all.”
“That’s in contrast to my background, where education was not only given to me, but expected of me. It really puts things in perspective.”
In photography, there are many different mediums to choose from, yet most of your photos use film. Why is that?
“At the risk of sounding pretentious, I prefer film because I find that the hues, tones, and the colors are unlike what you can get from a digital camera. In most cases, I prefer using film for its color profile.”
“I don’t like to work with digital photography because I feel like it looks too perfect. Additionally, [digital] doesn’t force you to look for the shot as closely or carefully. With film, all of the features of digital photography aren’t there. It forces you to be more conservative and hone your technique. Plus, there’s something about the process that I feel is lost when using digital.”
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Everett is holding true to his goals of trying to capture people’s lives; right after our interview concluded, he invited me to have my photos taken. The binders upon binders of his photos he showed me—exemplifying a dedication to the craft—strike me as the marking of a great artist in the making. You can find him on Instagram @rainier_tallboy
