A VISION IN LIGHT AND FORM: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF G.B. SMITH
I met G.B. Smith many years ago, just as he was returning to photography after a long hiatus. He was reconnecting with photography and exploring the medium anew, and I could sense a spark of curiosity ignited within him. Over the following years, that spark turned into a remarkable flame of creativity. It’s been a privilege to witness his evolution from someone rediscovering the art form to a photographer whose work now inspires many, including myself.
What G.B. has achieved over the past several years is nothing short of extraordinary. Watching his journey unfold has been a privilege. From diving back into photography to winning awards and producing a vast body of compelling work, his dedication demonstrates what’s possible when passion meets discipline. Discover G.B. Smith’s curated collection of images that exemplify his unique approach. View the gallery here.
As the curator of The Curated Landscape, I’m honored to share his story and his insights with you. Over the years, I’ve admired not only his work but also the deliberate way he balances his creativity with other facets of his life.
G.B. Smith’s journey and philosophy offer invaluable insights, which I’m excited to explore in this feature, delving into the inspirations, challenges, and perspectives that shape his work.
The Art of Balancing Life and Creativity
One of G.B. Smith’s most remarkable qualities is his ability to excel at photography while juggling so many other demanding roles. His approach to managing time and responsibilities reveals a deliberate and methodical mindset, one that enables him to thrive in multiple arenas. He’s a CEO with a significant role in the technology world, a devoted family man, and someone who prioritizes physical health by working out daily. Yet he has found a way to thrive in photography, producing award-winning work that feels as though it comes from someone entirely dedicated to the craft.
"I consider myself very fortunate to travel extensively both professionally and personally," he said when I asked how he balances these roles. "I’m able to sometimes tag on a couple of days for photography if I’m in a location of interest." While this structure allows him to pursue his creative passions, it also means his approach is far from spontaneous. "I have to manage my time in a very structured way and therefore research and plan those few days very deliberately," he explained.
This intentionality is what allows Smith to create space for his artistic practice. "By ‘allocating’ days where I am focused solely on photography, it acts as a forcing function to provide space and balance in my life," he added. For Smith, photography isn’t just a passion—it’s a meditative process that recharges him for everything else he does. "It forces me to slow down and think about things from the outside in," he shared. In those moments, the lens becomes a gateway to clarity, and the noise of daily life fades away. Photography becomes more than an escape—it’s a way of grounding himself, finding balance in the intricate dance of light and form. This intentionality also informs his creative process, where he focuses on distilling scenes to their most essential elements.
Seeing the Essence
This commitment to intentionality carries over seamlessly into Smith’s creative process. His ability to distill a scene to its essence is a cornerstone of his work. When I asked him how he approaches this, he explained, "When I see a scene that captures my attention, I try to step back and ask myself, ‘truly why?’" It’s a deceptively simple question that requires keen observation and self-awareness.
This practice of stripping away distractions often means revisiting locations multiple times, experimenting with angles, and waiting for just the right light. "The process of distilling scenes to their essence parallels how I approach challenges in life—removing noise and focusing on what truly matters," he said. It’s this clarity of purpose that gives his images their unmistakable power. Interestingly, Smith applies this same philosophy to his business role in the technology world. "The most obvious parallel is trying to distill things down to their essence and form while removing the other noise," he shared. "They are both creative, just in different forms and contexts.”
Smith’s excitement for photography today stems from his ability to blend his traditional, methodical approach with the latest advancements in digital technology. "I first started my photographic journey over fifty years ago, learning on large plate cameras and developing images by hand," he shared. Rediscovering his passion years later, he was drawn to the possibilities offered by modern tools. "The advances in digital and camera technologies enable more tools to help shape and deliver the envisioned outcome for any given image. However, I feel strongly that they are just enabling tools. I still deploy the same slow approach to image creation that I did then, I just have better tools." This combination of old-school discipline and contemporary innovation is what makes his work so striking. "I still always shoot from a tripod, use large format cameras in full manual mode, often using long exposures, and I only work in black-and-white imagery," he explained. It’s this blend of tradition and technology that allows him to refine and elevate his artistic vision.
The World in Black and White
Smith’s exclusive focus on black-and-white photography is both a practical choice and an artistic statement. When I asked him about his choice to work exclusively in black-and-white, I framed the question with a comparison: color photography, I suggested, is like a movie—everything is laid out for the viewer. Black-and-white, on the other hand, feels more like poetry or a novel—it strips the scene down to its essence and invites viewers to engage their imagination, almost "finishing" the story themselves.
Smith reflected on this idea in the context of his own work. "Being extremely color blind has absolutely forced me to focus more on the form and the shades and patterns of light and not to be distracted by oversaturated color, which seems to permeate modern photographic tastes," he said. "It allows me to try to focus on the absolute subject and the flows of light in its basic form.”
He elaborated on how his black-and-white imagery serves as a visual journey for the viewer. "I always think about taking the viewer through the journey of the image, often following these pathways of light and trying to convey a different, simplified perspective of the subject that they might not necessarily have perceived through the distractions of color and other surrounding forms," he explained.
This philosophy of guiding the viewer through calm, intentional spaces is central to Smith’s work. "In doing so, I consistently seek to try to get the viewer to slow down and hopefully appreciate the subject in a different way, providing calm space for their own interpretation," he added. By focusing on light, form, and texture, Smith’s images transcend the literal, inviting viewers to connect with the essence of the subject in their own way.
Stories Behind the Photographs
Every photograph has a story, and Smith shared some of the most memorable moments from his work. One that stood out to me was the creation of Fujisan, a striking panorama of Mount Fuji. "We had been touring all around the base of the mountain with the weather refusing to cooperate, offering generally clear blue skies but with low, stubborn clouds obscuring the mountain from any view," Smith recounted. Late in the day, winding his way back to Tokyo, he stopped at a rest area high above Lake Ashinoko. "After hiking away from the crowds, I was presented with the view of misty layering across the lake leading into the mountain, plus late afternoon wispy clouds had appeared above a cleared view of the summit," he said. Standing above Lake Ashinoko, the sudden shift in light and mist felt almost orchestrated—a fleeting gift from the mountain itself, just waiting to be seen. The result was a breathtaking panorama that conveys both breadth and depth through layers of revealed contrasting landscapes.
The Solitary I & II series showcases the same tree from two perspectives, each capturing a unique emotional resonance. "As part of studying any subject, I will often experiment with different perspectives to see what best captures its essence," Smith explained. For most subjects, a single image stands out as the definitive representation. But with Solitary, both perspectives resonated in different ways—one intimate and grounded, the other expansive and connected to the broader landscape. "Once I truly feel satisfied that I’ve optimally captured what I envisioned, I rarely return to the scene," he added. Yet achieving that satisfaction often requires multiple visits under varying conditions of light and weather.
Another powerful series, Arabian Shadows, highlights the vastness and beauty of the Empty Quarter desert. "Since childhood, I have been fascinated by the Arabian desert," Smith shared. The logistics of navigating such a remote and hostile terrain required careful planning and a skilled local guide. "While navigating deep into the desert for optimal shots, we occasionally got our trucks stuck, which is when you really appreciate local expertise!" he recalled. The serene, shifting landscapes provided endless inspiration, with the dunes continuously reshaped by the wind. The featured images—Crested, Zala-Shadow, and Almamaraat - Pathways—illustrate the profound stillness and scale of this environment, reflecting Smith’s ability to find beauty in challenging conditions.
These stories underscore Smith’s commitment to his craft and his ability to translate fleeting moments into lasting works of art.
Nature and Architecture in Harmony
One of the most fascinating aspects of Smith’s portfolio is how effortlessly he bridges the worlds of natural landscapes and modern architecture. These seemingly disparate subjects share a common thread in his work: the interplay of light, form, and structure. "Human-made forms often replicate natural landscapes," he explained. "Modern architecture, with its clean lines and minimalist aesthetic, mirrors nature’s patterns and flows.”
This perspective is central to his Geotecture II series, where urban structures take on the elegance of sculptures. "Whether it’s a mountain or a skyscraper, I’m looking for the same underlying flows that define its essence," he shared. His approach transforms everyday urban elements into striking visual narratives, revealing harmony where others might see contrast.
This ability to find commonalities between nature and architecture stems from Smith’s broader philosophy of seeking simplicity and meaning. "I approach both subjects with the same goal: to distill them to their most essential forms," he told me. By stripping away distractions, Smith uncovers universal patterns that connect the man-made and the natural—inviting viewers to see them in a new light.
Purpose-Driven Art
Smith’s book Pathways represents the culmination of his artistic philosophy—a journey not just through landscapes and structures but through the emotional spaces they inhabit. During our conversation, the idea of "pathways" recurred frequently, both in his imagery and his broader philosophy: guiding viewers to navigate their own interpretations and emotional connections through his work.
The book’s title, Pathways, embodies these ideas while also reflecting a deeply personal mission. For G.B. Smith, the pathways of light that wind through his images are more than visual elements. They echo life’s own journeys—unexpected and challenging, but always lit by the clarity of intention. Dedicated to the Breast Cancer Alliance, the project became a way for Smith to unite his artistic endeavors with a cause close to his heart. "It brought together my creative passion and my desire to contribute to something profoundly meaningful," he shared.
The intentional sequencing of the images adds another layer of narrative depth. "I wanted to take the viewer on a journey—starting with minimalist natural landscapes, transitioning to man-made forms, and closing with serene water flows," Smith explained. This thoughtful arrangement mirrors the rhythms of life, drawing viewers into a meditative experience as they move from one image to the next.
Through Pathways, Smith demonstrates how art can transcend its medium, offering calm and reflection while connecting with something greater. "My hope is that the book invites viewers to pause, reflect, and find their own meaning in its pages," he said. The result is a body of work that invites viewers to pause, reflect, and find personal meaning within its pages—while also contributing to a cause close to Smith’s heart.
Closing Reflections
G.B. Smith’s photography embodies a way of seeing that goes beyond the surface. Whether capturing the delicate interplay of light in a natural landscape or the bold geometry of a single structure, his work invites us to look closer, to appreciate the harmony and intention present in every frame. Each photograph holds a quiet conversation between light, form, and space—reminding us that beauty often resides in what’s left unspoken.
This feature has taken us through his creative process, from his disciplined balance of life and photography to his reflections on black-and-white imagery and the meditative nature of his craft. It’s clear that Smith’s work is not just about documenting what’s in front of him—it’s about creating images that offer stillness, clarity, and a connection to something deeper.
For me, having followed G.B.’s journey over the years, this is what stands out the most: his ability to take what might seem ordinary to others and transform it into something timeless. It’s been an honor to reflect on his approach, his philosophy, and the quiet power his images carry.
If you’ve been inspired by his story, I encourage you to explore more. Use the links below to visit G.B. Smith’s website and see his latest work, follow him on Instagram to witness his evolving journey, or immerse yourself in his book Pathways. At The Curated Landscape, we’re proud to highlight artists like G.B. Smith, who remind us of photography’s power to connect, inspire, and transform how we see the world.
