In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to overlook the quiet, ordinary moments that make up the majority of our lives. But for photographer Joe Schmelzer, these moments are the very essence of what it means to be alive. In his collection, Life With Nick, Schmelzer shares ten years of images capturing intimate moments with his partner, Nick Berry.
Schmelzer’s photographs are “lush meditations on the wonder of ordinary life,” according to fellow artist Cliff Benjamin. They are “generic” settings that “could be anyone’s vacation – but are something more.” They remind us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the everyday.
Schmelzer’s journey to becoming a photographer began with a portrait of Muhammad Ali hanging in his bedroom, a gift from his father. He explains that the idea of a career making photographs was entered early into his mind. He finds the extraordinary in mundane moments and believes that this is something that other people can cultivate in themselves.
For Schmelzer, the process of capturing these moments is both internal and external. It is about finding a way to bring out the beauty of the small moments and to appreciate and admire every moment. His photographs are a combination of magical moments and the quieter moments that make up the bulk of our lives.
Schmelzer has been with Nick for over a decade, and the process of choosing which images to put in the book has been difficult. He has thousands of images to choose from and is still trying to find the best way to deal with the book situation, whether to self-publish or find a publisher. His favorite part of the process is looking back at the relationship over time and remembering all the things that were happening at certain situations and travels.
Finally, Schmelzer talks about bacon as a subject matter and how it is just delicious and not a specific fascination. His photographs are not just limited to home, they also explore other areas, and he is open to seeing if bacon will fry on the street in Palm Springs.
Schmelzer’s work is a reminder that the extraordinary is often hidden in the ordinary. His photographs encourage us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the everyday, and to find the extraordinary in the seemingly mundane moments of our lives.
Follow the couple at @treasurbite & @joeschmelzer and @nicktberry. See more of Schmelzer’s work at joeschmelzer.com