“I’ve photographed some incredible spaces over the last 24 years, but this recent shoot at the Shockoe Institute stands out as one of the most immersive environments I’ve ever stepped into.”
Photographer Lincoln Barbour recently shot images of the Shockoe Institute located in Richmond’s historic Main Street Station, the Institute is a 12,000-square-foot facility designed by design company Local Projects. It is a space dedicated to revealing the evolution of American racial slavery and its impact on our civic life today. The shoot itself presented a unique technical challenge for Lincoln: Seeing in the dark.
To make the camera “see” what the human eye does in such a contrasty, atmospheric space, Lincoln relied on a few “steady hand” techniques. Long Exposures, “Micro-Slow” Movement and extensive Digital Cleanup helped channel the immersion of the space in his photography.
On his Instagram, Lincoln reflects on the project as a whole: “Documenting this history—centered in the heart of Richmond—is heavy work. It is brutal and uncomfortable, but necessary for the reflection and action the Institute seeks to inspire. I’m proud to have helped document this “gateway” to understanding our shared history.”
See images from the project below. For more of Lincoln’s work, visit his Workbook portfolio.
