The Human Condition with Photographic Bandwidth

Image Credits: Sanjay Tomar

Image Credits: Claudia Revidat and Farid Ghimas

Image Credits: Rid Burman

Timothy's journey into photography began in his teenage years. "I got into photography back in high school, around 14, 15, or 16 years old," he recalled. Growing up in Tennessee, weekend hiking trips with his dad and brother were a regular family activity. His dad's old Coolpix Nikon camera, a relic of early 2000s technology, became Timothy's first introduction to capturing the world around him.

"For one reason or another, my dad either encouraged me to take some photos or I just asked him if I could. This casual interest soon blossomed into a passion. By the age of 16, Timothy had enrolled in an introductory darkroom photography class in high school. "I didn't like any of the classes I was taking. Nothing seemed interesting to me. But the photography class clicked. The process of shooting a roll of film, putting it through chemical processes, and creating a physical print made sense to me," he tells me.

The darkroom experience was transformative for Timothy. "There’s something about being on your own in a small space, in the dark, with a process that feels almost magical," he reflected. The hands-on nature of darkroom photography, where one either gets the exposure right or messes it up entirely, appealed to him. It was a lesson in precision and creativity, where mistakes became part of the learning process.

In high school and later in university, Timothy honed his skills. "I took an independent study in photography and spent a lot of time shooting for various publications. Sometimes it worked out, other times it didn’t," he said. His early attempts included fashion editorials and other commissioned work, but they left him feeling unfulfilled. "I didn’t care about it. I was trying to make what I thought others wanted, rather than focusing on my vision."

Timothy’s university years were marked by both educational and personal growth. He attended Wells College in upstate New York, a decision influenced by family pressure. "My dad was a college professor, and I could attend the university he taught at for a reduced rate. But I didn’t want to go to college," he admitted.

Despite his reluctance, his time at Wells College proved beneficial. "I studied visual arts with a concentration in photography. I also took bookbinding classes, which piqued my interest in making zines," he shared. This interest laid the groundwork for his future endeavours in publishing. However, just a week before his senior year, Timothy dropped out. "I realized I wanted to focus on my photography, not just what the curriculum demanded."

After college, Timothy embarked on a journey of self-discovery and creative exploration. He experimented with different projects, including two failed magazines. "I had no idea what I was doing, but those failures led me to where I am today," he said. His persistence paid off with the creation of Photographic Bandwidth.

The publishing house became a platform for Timothy to merge his passion for photography with his interest in spirituality and philosophy. "I wanted to create a space where I could explore themes that fascinated me and cohesively present them," he explained. Photographic Bandwidth's volumes are a testament to this vision, each one delving into different aspects of the human condition through the lens of documentary photography.

One of the key themes in Timothy’s work is the documentation of cultures different from his own. This interest is rooted in a historical appreciation of how photography has been used to capture and understand diverse societies. "Photography has a long history of documenting cultures, often through the eyes of outsiders. This can be both enlightening and problematic," he noted.

Timothy approaches this delicate balance with a sense of responsibility and respect. "I try to immerse myself in the cultures I’m documenting, to understand them as deeply as possible before I even pick up the camera," he said. This immersive approach ensures that his work is not just a superficial glance but a meaningful exploration of the subjects' lives and environments.

Timothy's exploration of culture and religion is deeply intertwined with his spiritual journey. "A lot of what piqued my interest from the inception of Photographic Bandwidth was portraiture, but then I started doing a lot of photography around religion and culture," he explained. This shift was influenced by his practice of Hinduism. "I started taking spirituality seriously around the end of 2021, and it’s intertwined with the publication to a certain capacity."

His interest in Hinduism began in high school during a world religions class. "The teacher misrepresented Hinduism, saying it was polytheistic with many gods. I didn't know much, but I knew that Hinduism viewed God as omnipresent, manifesting in many forms," he said. This sparked a deeper interest in understanding the religion, leading him to explore its philosophies and practices more earnestly.

Timothy sees photography as a gateway to explore his spiritual and cultural interests. "Photography has allowed me to explore different interests that I probably wouldn't have pursued otherwise," he said. This includes meeting people and having conversations that he might not have had without a camera in hand. Conversations with figures like Robert Ryan and Krishna Das have enriched his understanding. The human condition is philosophical and nuanced. "I’m still figuring out how to word it, but the human condition is a central theme in many spiritual paths and topics," he explained. He aims to explore these themes without being dogmatic. "Volume Two of the publication might seem in-your-face with spirituality, but it's not meant to be dogmatic. It's about exploring what it means to be human."

He acknowledges the complexity of this endeavour. "I want to show these ideas in a more nuanced way. The human condition and what it means to be human are covered in many paths and themes," he said. This exploration is ongoing, as he continues to refine his approach and deepen his understanding.

One of the most rewarding aspects of running Photographic Bandwidth is connecting with an audience who genuinely appreciates the work. "It’s always amazing to talk to people who are really into the publication and see that they get something from it," Timothy shared. He recounted recent book launch events where he had the opportunity to engage with readers. "Hearing them talk about the publication and what they took from it was a great feeling," he said.

However, running a publishing house comes with its own set of challenges and rewards. One of the biggest challenges Timothy faces is financial. "The financial aspect is the biggest burden for sure. I’m not making any money off of Photographic Bandwidth; it’s purely a passion project," he admitted. He supports the publication through his day job and a small business line of credit. "It’s enough to make a book and keep going, but it limits what you can do," he said.

Despite this Timothy finds creative ways to work within his limitations. "It forces you to get creative and focus on what you want to say," he noted.

We finished his upcoming projects. He tells me he is working on a catalogue of traditional photo books with various photographers, aiming to publish more hardcover and softcover books in the future. "The end goal is to release a spring, summer, fall, and winter catalogue of photo books and an annual volume of photographic bandwidth,"

You can check out Photographic Bandwidth here and make sure to follow them on Instagram