About Artist Lamar Landers

Sydney G. James and Lamar Landers. Photo by Lamar Landers.

ABOUT LAMAR LANDERS

A simple seven word mantra guides Lamar Landers’ life and focus as a self-taught photographer: "Do something new or be something better."

Landers was born in Detroit, a city whose people and storied, gritty streets are often central subjects in his photographs and his creative intention to capture the essence of whatever and whoever his lens lands on. Landers draws viewers close with daring composition choices, meticulous attention to lighting and purposeful experimentation with the juxtaposition of grime and glamor.

"A lot of people try to catch every moment instead of waiting for the little bitty moments, like the girl turning around with her eyes directly on you,’’ Landers says. “Those little moments are the reality of life, the things that help people see and remember without you having to explain it.’’ He has captured such moments in cities and countries throughout 6 of the 7 continents.

Landers’s artistry behind the camera is influenced by an equal passion for music making and production. Evidence of his ability to seamlessly meld the two arts forms can be seen in “Theorematic: The Math Behind the Music” a photo docu-series which he created to chronicle and explore the work of musicians and artists from around the world. In 2020, Landers won Best Director in the Hollywood Gold Awards Film Festival for “Girl With The D Earring,'' a short-documentary film that captures the creation of an 8000 square foot mural created by his partner, painter Sydney G. James.

Though Landers' photos are described as art, he views his creations as symbols of a process more important than any label. “It’s a practice before anything else. That's the way you get to the art; the whole point in calling yourself a photographer.’’