Sagoh
In an era defined by the rapid, ephemeral consumption of digital imagery, Los Angeles-based photographer Caleb Thal is challenging how we archive our personal histories. As a recipient of the 2025 Art & Photo Book Award, Thal has released his latest project, To Remember—a visceral, tactile exploration of how the act of looking at a photograph fundamentally alters the memory of the event it depicts. Through a meticulous process of printing, re-photographing, and physically manipulating his own archives, Thal invites viewers to confront the fluidity of time and the fragility of the human experience.
The Genesis of To Remember
The conceptual framework for To Remember is rooted in the artist’s own childhood. Growing up in a family that documented everything from birthday parties to vacations, Thal spent hours sifting through physical boxes of photographs. He recalls this ritual as a foundational element of his development, noting that his adult memories of specific childhood events are now inextricably linked to the photographs of those moments, rather than the events themselves.
"As a child, I spent a lot of time looking at old photographs of myself and my family as we grew up," Thal explains. "As I am older, I find myself remembering events of my childhood more centered on the photograph as opposed to the actual event."
This realization became the catalyst for his book. Thal sought to bridge the gap between the original experience and the subsequent, evolving memory of that experience. By physically re-photographing his prints, he introduces a new layer of time—the "memory of the act of photographing the print"—thereby acknowledging that photography is not a static preservation of the past, but a living, breathing dialogue with it.
A Life in Focus: The Chronology of an Artist
Caleb Thal’s journey to becoming a noted photographer is marked by pivotal moments of transition and self-discovery. His worldview was significantly reshaped by three distinct life chapters:
- The Overseas Awakening: At the age of 18, having spent his entire life in suburban Arizona, Thal moved abroad for six months. This period of displacement forced him to confront his identity outside the context of his upbringing and fundamentally altered his perspective on global culture.
- The Pandemic and Parenthood: The birth of his son, which coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, served as a period of profound emotional intensity. The duality of fear and incredible joy during this time infused his work with a new sense of urgency and emotional weight.
- The Shift in Perspective: Leaving his evangelical Christian upbringing was a transformative experience. Much like the process of re-photographing his prints, Thal’s departure from his religious roots required him to dismantle his existing worldview and reconstruct a new, personal understanding of his place in the world.
Artistic Methodology: The Alchemy of Print
Thal’s process for To Remember is intentionally performative. In an industry increasingly dominated by digital workflows, he emphasizes the importance of the physical object. His technique involves taking existing prints—spanning over a decade of work—and re-photographing them under various environmental conditions.
The results are not merely copies; they are new, singular images. Lighting, the angle of the lens, and even the physical state of the print at the time of the shoot create subtle, atmospheric variations. Thal describes the process as organic: "I would photograph these pictures at random times—sometimes in the afternoon when the light was good, sometimes it was the last evening light and my son just went to bed so I could sneak in a bit of work."
This approach mirrors his philosophy on photography: he identifies as an instinctual creator. While he admires the rigor of those who work with extreme intentionality, he believes his best work emerges when he leans into the visceral, immediate "feeling" a subject or a light condition evokes.
Inspiration in the Mundane
When asked about his current creative influences, Thal points toward a surprisingly humble source: his five-year-old son. Witnessing his son encounter the world—riding a bike, using a phone, or discovering a new object for the first time—has reignited Thal’s own sense of wonder.
"I’ve been in the world of photography for what feels like a long time," Thal reflects. "With the pace of Instagram and how we absorb content, there is so much good work out there that I feel sort of numb to it all. But I remember when I first started taking pictures and I would get that excitement, giddiness almost… I’ve been looking for that feeling lately in my work, and trying to find it in places that aren’t so obvious."
This search for the "giddiness" of discovery serves as an antidote to the "numbness" of contemporary image saturation. By turning his lens toward the mundane and the familial, Thal seeks to remind his audience that significance is not always found in grand gestures, but in the slow, rhythmic accumulation of everyday life.
Implications: A Call to Slow Down
The implications of To Remember extend beyond the aesthetic. In a landscape dominated by the rapid-fire consumption of social media imagery, Thal’s work serves as a critique of how we value memory. He suggests that we are losing our connection to our own history because we are constantly bombarded by the curated, often inadequate, representations of other people’s lives.
"My hope is that this book reminds people to slow down, to enjoy the mundane and the moments that are created," he says.
For those looking to engage with this ethos, Thal’s success in the 2025 Art & Photo Book Awards—supported by Bookmobile—stands as a testament to the viability of long-form, physical storytelling. As he looks toward the future, his goals are twofold: a physical challenge (training for a 50k run) and an altruistic professional ambition.
"I would love to be known as someone whose work somehow made the world a little brighter," Thal says. "Even if it’s just inspiring a future photographer, or making work that speaks to climate change, I would like for my work to play a tiny part of it all."
Conclusion: The Legacy of the Image
Caleb Thal’s To Remember is more than just a collection of photographs; it is a meditation on the nature of being. By acknowledging that every time we revisit a memory, we change it, he grants us permission to view our own lives with the same nuance and tenderness.
As the industry continues to evolve, Thal remains grounded in the mentorship of figures like Mark Mahaney, whose blend of instinct and intentionality continues to guide his path. For readers and aspiring photographers, Thal’s journey provides a roadmap for finding significance in the overlooked.
For those interested in pursuing their own narrative projects, the 2026 Art & Photo Book Awards are currently accepting proposals. As Caleb Thal has demonstrated, the opportunity to crystallize one’s personal history into a lasting volume is not just a creative accomplishment—it is a vital act of remembrance in an increasingly fleeting world.
Caleb Thal’s "To Remember" is available for purchase through his official website. For more information on the Booooooom Art & Photo Book Awards, please visit their official submission portal.
Basiran
