James Bacchi
Palm Springs, CA
Social Media
Instagram
How would you describe your work?
inthesky is a black and white mobile photography series I began in 2015. Utilizing the skies seen in cities throughout the US, the United Kingdom and Europe, my intention is to capture tension from the ground up. Each photograph is a spontaneous, often dramatic impression of a moment.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by noticing. The transience of the sky offers moments that exist for only seconds. Capturing a fragment of time and illustrating its impact alongside the remaining elements and overall composition can be quite extraordinary.
Can you speak about your process?
My process evolves around observation. I look at the sky as both subject and canvas. I gravitate to transitional light. Technically, I am somewhat restrained. I prefer minimal framing, motion over stillness, and try to crop as I shoot.
Conceptually, my work is about removal. By stripping away the narrative, I invite the viewer to project their own interpretation. The sky becomes a universal abstraction – timeless, borderless, and deeply personal.
How did you become interested in art?
I became interested in art as a collector. My fascination with Mobile Photography began in 2011 while Co-Hosting the First Annual Mobile Photography Awards Exhibition with Annette Schutz at ArtHaus in San Francisco.
I was in awe of what photographers could visually achieve with their phones.
Do you have any favorite artists, movies, books, or quotes?
My favorite artists and photographers are Donald Roller Wilson, Serena Bocchino, Carrie Ann Plank, Eric Rewitzer, Adam Kurtzman’s papier-mache and metal works, Pietro Spirito, Simen Johan, Astrid and Chris Schiavo. My preferred books are The Little Prince, A Strong Night Wind, and 1984. Hands down, my all-time favorite movie is Goodfellas. The best quote ever; “I’m a victim of circumstance.” - Curly Howard.
