Meet Alexander Hamm | Freelance Photographer & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexander Hamm and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexander, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
Currently, I am living and working in Columbus, Georgia, but I have technically lived in multiple places, the most important of which being Alaska. I am a military brat, so most of my life was bouncing around from one base to another. Moving has taught me to make friends quickly and to keep a hold onto important memories, hence why photography has been such an important part of my life. There was never a moment where my parents forgot to bring their cameras. Granted, they were never perfect photos, but nothing is perfect nor should be. I remember many a family road trip where I would ask to borrow a camera and just start firing photos left and right. Looking back, it was a bit excessive, but I wanted to capture the whole of the experience I had. Susan Sonntag said it best in that photography is a “memento mori” of sorts, preserving a memory of something that will disappear forever. We only have these moments once, so it’s best to be present in those moments, and bring a camera of course.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a photographer, I want to learn everything that I can about photography. I feel that sometimes, as artists, we like to put ourselves in a box, such as “I am good at A, but B looks really hard, so I am going to stick with what I am good at.” The reality, as I have found out, is that we have to at least look at all of the boxes. As a musician playing the French horn, I thought I would stick to only playing the low parts in a classical setting, when in reality, I need to have a broader understanding and chip my way through the challenging things. That being said, it’s best to stay humble and know your limits. I remember taking a summer job as a studio portrait photographer and doing a terrible job of it at first. I was quite literally just learning how to shoot in manual mode, which is not great for re-touchers nor for keeping your job. My boss took me into his office and gave me a rundown of my photos, saying that if I didn’t do better, I would be out of a job. It was from that moment on that I wanted to get serious in this art form, and do the best job that I can.

After that summer, I started taking portraits of the musicians I have played with at school. I was also working with the social media team at the Schwob School of Music and taking pictures of competition winners and several concerts. I think that folder was about 544 gigabytes. The next summer, I had finally acquired a full frame camera and lens: a Canon 5D Classic with a Sigma 70-200 lens. At the time, that camera was about 10 years old, and boy was that a steep learning curve. The batteries would die out at the drop of a hat, I only had 8 gigabytes of memory to work with, and the dynamic range was quite limited for the cameras that were around at the time (a.k.a. any Sony camera). Despite the constraints, I loved that camera to death. It forced me to learn so many things about photography, the camera, and myself. This effect was enhanced when I first started working with the Sitka Fine Arts Camp (SFAC). I was running between classes and getting as many photos as possible, and I would stay up late into the night editing, hoping that a bear did not get to me before I got back to bed.

SFAC really changed what kind of artist I was. Photographing the kids and young adults attending the camp made me realize that all aspects of art all work together to create something beautiful. Whether it be band, digital painting, documentary film making, or writing, it’s not one specific thing that defines who you are as an artist, or as a person for that matter. You can do all of it! It does not matter how good you are at trying a new thing, it’s the experience of learning that new thing that can change your approach in areas where you excel. Most of the time, that change in approach can help propel those given abilities further. It can be uncomfortable, but we do not grow from places of comfort, we grow from challenges.

It was that realization that reignited my passions for music and guided me to the wonderful world of film photography, an area that I am still learning in. It was trying new things that kept me going during the height of the pandemic; I learned how to cook and in that process, learned how to use the fire extinguisher. I got back into writing haiku, and learned about the importance of finances. As humans, we never stop learning, nor do we ever learn everything, but I want to experience as much of it as I can and with luck, make some friends along the way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have lived in a lot of places, but I will give you a rundown of some go-to spots in and around Columbus, Georgia. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea (I say this as someone who has allergies), but I highly enjoy roaming around Callaway Gardens. It’s a great spot to check out during the summer, and I love to photograph the immeasurable amount of flowers. There are also plenty of trails to hike/walk along. If you really enjoy hiking, Providence Canyon is the place to go. It is a fun place that reminds me of a miniature Grand Canyon, and it is quite photogenic too. Sticking to Columbus, there is the Riverwalk, a trail that goes on for literal miles. You have the option to rent a bike from Ride On Bikes or walk the trails yourself. Next to the Riverwalk, you can go whitewater rafting, kayaking, or ziplining.

After all of that, be sure to stop by Fountain City Coffee, they have some of the best coffee I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. They have such an inviting atmosphere, and the staff is absolutely wonderful. Along downtown is the Historic District, of which has several antebellum houses dating back to the late 1800’s. As for the night scene, stopping by the Rivercenter is no mistake. Do be sure to catch a Broadway show or better yet, Kaleidoscope, an amazing show put on by the amazing individuals at the Schwob School of Music.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to take a moment to thank the wonderful people at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp in Sitka, Alaska. It was one of my first professional photography ventures and it changed my life for the better. If it wasn’t for Roger Schmidt and Rhiannon Guevin for taking a chance on me, I would not be where I am today. I also want to thank my parents for their love and support, and all of my friends who supported my work and efforts.

Website: alexhammphoto.myportfolio.com

Instagram: @alex._.hamm

Other: Redbubble page: https://www.redbubble.com/people/Hammbone2020/explore?asc=u