In contrast with the majority of contemporary photographers who have embraced the digital camera for its lightweight design and instant gratification, American photographer John Chiara prefers his own hand-built, oversized camera to create his landscapes. The artist’s camera, which measures approximately 50 x 80 inches and is similar in format to a 19th century daguerreotype box camera, is transported on a flat-bed trailer to each location to produce his unique large scale prints. Once the truck is situated, Chiara climbs inside the camera and sits in complete darkness while manipulating the amount of light that enters the lens as images are recorded directly onto oversize photosensitive paper. This labor intensive technique, which often requires a full day for a single image, allows him to simultaneously shoot and execute his darkroom work. Chiara’s approach is as much about performance as it is about photography and results in images that exude a strong resemblance to watercolor paintings with soft faded hues that give a sense of a mysterious, fleeting presence. Through his uncommon practice, Chiara pushes the boundaries of the photographic medium and takes a traditional subject matter and transforms it into a luminous, abstract and almost haunting vision, which has the power to leave the viewer in a state of daydream.