Unpublished: John Cizmas in his Garden

Los Angeles-based still life photographer John Cizmas deepened his relationship with his yard while watching the details of his various flowers and plants change as they grew. To remember the experience, he developed this series.

John started this project in the early days of the pandemic. His garden was blooming just when he suddenly found himself perpetually at home. During this uncertain time, watching his garden grow was a special experience that he wanted to be able to look back on.

To photograph the fauna in his yard, he converted his backyard shed into a tabletop studio.  

All images were shot there, many with my four year old daughter as my assistant.

John’s main incentive to take these images was to preserve the beauty he was surrounded by in his yard. Interacting with an individual plant up close as it grows is moving. It happens both slowly and quickly, but you never get to see it. It’s like a magic trick.

There is so much change that happens in a garden through the year, to be present in that really inspired me.

In some ways, a working photographer doesn’t experience the same luxury as a hobby or fine art photographer. Working with a client, while of course still enjoyable in its own right, is a completely different experience than shooting only when inspired, when a visual scene calls out to be captured. John enjoyed the reminder to slow down and be patient in his process. There was no rush or time limit.

My time shooting these photos was pure bliss. Growing something beautiful and then making an image of it is really fulfilling.

This project was all about authenticity for John. He barely touched up the photos in Photoshop. 

This project is me — it’s my photographic style on full display.  I was able to study each subject and photograph the way I felt fit.

---

See more of our photographers’ projects on our Unpublished page.