Ali Ikhwan
In the digital age, photography has become a ubiquitous, often fleeting act of documentation. We capture thousands of images, scroll past them in seconds, and store them in the vast, ethereal cloud, rarely engaging with the physical object itself. Los Angeles-based photographer Caleb Thal, however, is pushing against this tide of digital impermanence. His latest monograph, To Remember, is a profound exploration of how photographs—and the memories tethered to them—evolve long after the shutter clicks.
As a 2025 Art & Photo Book Award winner, Thal has transformed his deeply personal project into a tangible artifact, supported by Bookmobile. The book serves as both a retrospective of his own life and a meta-commentary on the medium of photography. By printing, re-photographing, and physically altering his own archive, Thal traces the fluid, often unreliable nature of human recollection.
The Genesis of an Archive: A Chronology of Influence
To understand the weight of To Remember, one must look at the trajectory of Thal’s life, which has been defined by a constant state of movement and re-evaluation. Raised in suburban Arizona, his early life was marked by the traditional markers of childhood, but his perspective shifted significantly during his formative years.
At eighteen, Thal left the comfort of his upbringing in Arizona to live overseas for six months. This period of expatriation served as his first major "life-altering moment," forcing him to confront a worldview that had previously been confined to his immediate environment. This period of independence set the stage for a career characterized by travel and observation, with Thal spending significant time in New York, Phoenix, and the rugged, contemplative landscapes of Dolores, Colorado.
Perhaps the most radical shift in his life occurred as he stepped away from an evangelical Christian upbringing. This departure was not merely a change in belief but a foundational restructuring of how he interprets truth, community, and the passage of time—themes that permeate his current photographic work.
The final anchor in his personal chronology is the birth of his son, which occurred during the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This event, simultaneously terrifying and miraculous, reframed his role not only as an artist but as a witness to the rapid, often dizzying evolution of a new life.
The Artistic Process: Re-photographing the Past
Thal’s methodology for To Remember is as much about the physical labor of the craft as it is about the conceptual weight of memory. He explains that the project was born from a realization: our memories are often not of the event itself, but of the photograph that documented it.
"As a child, I spent a lot of time looking at old photographs of myself and my family as we grew up," Thal reflects. "As I am older, I find myself remembering events of my childhood more centered on the photograph as opposed to the actual event."
To bridge this gap, Thal engaged in a process of layered creation. He took physical prints from his archive—spanning the last decade—and re-photographed them under varying conditions. The results are haunting, textured, and deeply evocative. By capturing these prints at different times of day, in changing light, and with shifting angles, he allowed the environment of the "present" to bleed into the image of the "past."
He notes that the lighting conditions were often dictated by the rhythms of his life as a father: "Sometimes it was the last evening light, and my son had just gone to bed so I could sneak in a bit of work." These logistical constraints became stylistic choices, creating physical alterations, shadows, and glares that emphasize the degradation and evolution of memory over time.
Instinct vs. Intention: The Creative Philosophy
In the professional photography world, there is a perpetual debate between the value of the calculated, intentional frame and the raw, instinctual capture. For Thal, the answer is decisive. He identifies as a profoundly instinctual creator.
"I really envy people who work more intentionally," Thal admits. "For me personally, any of my work that I am overly intentional about feels like it comes across as trying too hard. The work I resonate most with is because of the feeling it gives me—whatever that feeling is—and I try to lean into that."
This philosophy finds a mentor in Mark Mahaney, whose work serves as a north star for Thal. Mahaney’s ability to balance the instinctual "feeling" of a moment with the meticulous, intentional care of a master photographer has provided a template for Thal’s own growth. It is this marriage of impulse and discipline that allows To Remember to feel both spontaneous and deeply curated.
The Role of the Mundane in Shaping Identity
When asked about his current inspirations, Thal pivots away from high-art influences and toward the perspective of his five-year-old son. He observes that his son is at the age where every experience—riding a bike, a phone call, witnessing a new environment—is a "first."
"I’ve been trying to really encapsulate that excitement and that feeling into my work," Thal says. He acknowledges a certain "numbness" that can set in after years in the industry, particularly in an era of social media-driven consumption. To combat this, he is actively seeking out the "giddiness" he felt when he first picked up a camera. He aims to find this spark in the mundane, arguing that the most profound memories are rarely the staged or high-stakes events, but the quiet, repetitive moments that make up the fabric of a life.
This desire to elevate the mundane is the central call to action for the reader of his book. Thal’s hope is that by flipping through the pages of To Remember, the audience will slow down and learn to value their own domestic archives. In an age where we feel pressured to present curated versions of our lives to the public, Thal’s work is an invitation to reclaim the private, imperfect, and messy nature of human history.
Future Implications: Beyond the Frame
As Caleb Thal looks toward the future, his ambitions remain rooted in both his personal growth and his desire to contribute to the greater good. In the immediate future, he plans to test his physical limits by running a 50k, a goal that parallels his endurance in the creative field.
Looking at his career as a whole, his aspirations are centered on impact. He wants his work to be a catalyst for a "brighter" world, whether that means inspiring the next generation of photographers or creating imagery that fosters a deeper connection to our environment and each other.
The Broader Context: The Booooooom Award and Beyond
Thal’s success is a testament to the thriving ecosystem of independent publishing. As a winner of the 2025 Art & Photo Book Award, he represents a growing movement of artists who are bypassing traditional gatekeepers to tell their stories in their own way.
The success of To Remember highlights the importance of organizations like Booooooom, which provide a platform for artists to turn their personal archives into high-quality, physical books. As the industry continues to evolve, the demand for high-quality, tactile art books—ones that require the reader to stop scrolling and start reflecting—is only increasing.
For those inspired by Thal’s journey, the path is open. The call for submissions for the 2026 Art & Photo Book Awards is currently active, inviting artists to submit their own proposals for books and zines. As Thal’s work proves, the most resonant stories are often found in the boxes of old photos sitting in our closets, waiting to be rediscovered, re-photographed, and remembered.
About the Artist:
Caleb Thal is a photographer currently based in Los Angeles. His work has appeared in various international publications and exhibitions. His book, To Remember, is available for purchase through his official website, calebthal.com. To follow his ongoing projects and future endeavors, including his upcoming 50k run, visit his portfolio online.
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