Wider Exposure

10/25/2023

By Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00, Head of Community Engagement

From the photography darkroom to the rapids of the James River, Thomas Clarkson ’24 finds creative ways to view and explore the world

Thomas Clarkson ’24 is a bit of an anomaly: a photographer who does not use a camera; a passionate outdoorsman who competes in full-contact boater-cross and SUP-cross (stand-up paddleboard) races that require strength, toughness, and a no-holds-barred attitude; an aspiring architect who also loves biology and environmental science. Perhaps this is why pursuing a divergent avenue in the photo studio proved so appealing to this dynamic senior.

Clarkson creates photograms, which are pictures produced with photographic material, in this case photographic paper, and exposing it to light. Clarkson was first introduced to this method by photography teacher Tom Condon during his sophomore year. Clarkson had taken digital photography as a freshman, and it was during his sophomore year in analog photography that his passion was ignited. “I loved learning experimental photo with Mr. Condon where he challenged us to push ourselves outside of traditional photography,” says Clarkson. “He taught us about photograms, and I learned to use the different chemicals and the enlarger to create art. I knew then that I wanted to pursue IB art.”

Clarkson worked side-by-side with Condon figuring out how different materials like cardboard can control how much light hits the photo paper in the darkroom. For Clarkson, this is a constant evolution and experiment. “You don’t know how it will turn out until you put it in the chemicals and see what happens,” he says.

Clarkson loves the abstract nature of photograms and sees each piece as an evolution. “I get ideas as I look at the paper,” he said. “None of my pieces have a ‘this-world’ aspect to them. It is almost as if I am painting with light.”

Clarkson is also making chemigrams, photo patterns using sticky material like spray lacquer, electrical tape and cling wrap to block the chemicals used to process the paper. Clarkson then scans each image into Photoshop, using selective color to complete each image. “Editing is time-consuming because of having to manually remove the dust that is on the images using my Macbook,” he says. “It can take hours, and I lose myself in the process.”

Clarkson says he loves the process of reflecting on previous work and continuously improving his craft. “Every single piece you are learning about what you are doing and how you are doing it. With every piece I am making more composed artwork.”

One major step in his progression happened this fall when Clarkson fulfilled a milestone that typically takes artists much longer to achieve: he is part of a professional gallery show at Gallery 263, is a nonprofit gallery committed to advancing contemporary art, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is by far the youngest artist in the show, which is juried and open to the public. In a fortuitous twist, the show opened on Clarkson’s birthday, October 12.

Clarkson credits his own curiosity and the guidance of his photography teacher for the honor of being showing his work alongside professional artists. It again started with curiosity and with Mr. Condon. “I submitted three pieces to this gallery call, just trying to go through the process to gain experience,” he says. “I was very surprised to get selected, as they only had spaces for 25 pieces at all. For the show, I had to ship the piece to Cambridge, and I was very nervous about shipping it off after so much hard work.”

As for his future, Clarkson remains focused yet flexible, much like the way he invites others to view his art. This isn’t surprising given his varied interests. He hopes to attend Virginia Tech to study architecture. The university has a darkroom in their architecture building where Clarkson would continue his craft. He is also considering a dual major that would include art in some way. During Trinity’s Junior Work Week experience, Clarkson worked with an architecture firm and followed that positive experience with attending Virginia Tech’s architecture camp over the summer.

As he continues his senior year, Clarkson is reflective about how Trinity has shaped his journey. “Traditional drawing and painting weren’t my passions, but Mr. Condon showed me that there is so much more to art,” he says. “Trinity made me an artist.”

In addition, Clarkson has been a major force in Trinity’s Outdoor Program, which he says has given him a physical outlet. “Traditional sports were not my passion,” Clarkson says. “Kayaking has been a great challenge and another way to see my progression. The water is different every time you are on it.”

The fruits of his progression have been seen on another stage alongside professionals: Dominion Energy’s Dominion Riverrock, an annual festival of all things outdoors. Trinity fields multiple competitors each May for the event, pitting them alongside professional watersports competitors. Clarkson won SUP-Cross (Stand-Up Paddleboard) in 10th grade and was second as a junior. He also placed second in the Boater-Cross event, which was the highest ever finish for a Trinity student in this event.

Clarkson is a true testament to the self-discovery so common among Trinity students, and it has been a joy for Condon to support from the photo lab. “Seeing his excitement about what he creates brings me so much joy,” says Condon. “I am even more thrilled when I see the sparks start to fly while he learns new processes. I am truly looking forward to seeing what he does [in the future]. He makes my job so rewarding.” That, indeed, is a bright light.

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About “Connections”

Connections is a regular online column, written from the first-person perspective of Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00, Head of Community Engagement:

In this space, I have the privilege of sharing stories of Trinity students, alumni, and faculty and staff who are carrying our mission beyond the boundaries of campus. Many of these stories might not make the headlines, but they will illustrate how every member of the Trinity community has a unique path to discover, and the ability to make an impact on both the Trinity community and the world beyond.

I am fortunate to have been a part of this community since my own adolescence. I have been a student, a teacher, a coach, and an administrator, and in these roles I have witnessed the school’s growth and evolution through the years. We have grown in size as well as spirit.

Stories here will capture how seeds planted at Trinity have taken root and flourished into full-grown passions. You’ll also read stories of those in our community who bring their gifts from outside to help us learn. At Trinity, we seek to develop lifelong learners, and stories here will illustrate real-life examples of that beautiful symbiosis.