Cover Artist - Ben Galland
CC: Artists often plan ahead: writers might begin
with an outline; painters often sketch in pencil
before introducing color. Do you have a picture in
mind before you look through the viewfinder?
BG: As an artist, I do have an idea or maybe a
theme or emotion. In terms of research, if I know I
have something in particular to shoot, I look at
satellite imagery, turns in the river or maybe the
tree canopy. I do a lot of research on time of day.
I try not to have a perfect idea in mind, because
you’ve gotta feel it when you get there.
CC: As an art form, photography seems ideal for
our time: a combination of technology and point-ofview.
A snapshot of the truth. Enter Photoshop!
Does authenticity suffer?
BG: When it comes to my commercial
photography, anything goes because this is your
business. I’m the exact opposite when it comes to
my art. I do as little Photoshop as possible. I
studied (photojournalism) and that taught me a
very truthful, straightforward view. It all comes
down to what is the end message of the art. With
these books, my goal is to show how beautiful this
coastline or this property or landscape is. To raise
awareness, to educate about it, to help conserve it
— then I’ve done my job. I’ve got to strive for
authenticity for that reason.
CC: What makes you so particularly good at
collaboration?
BG: We (Jingle Davis and I) are cut from the same
cloth. We’re kindred spirits. That relationship
38 | @hightidestsimons
Listening to Ben Galland talk about
photography is like peering into an artist’s
mind through a zoom lens: precise and
penetrating. The St. Simons native has
turned his love of Georgia’s coast into a
panoramic four-part book series shining a
spotlight from Cumberland to Jekyll to
Sapelo Islands. Recently he shared
insights into his inspiration and process
with High Tide editor Cathy Coleman.
brought a lot of success to those two books (St.
Simons and Jekyll) and opened the door to other
authors and historians. When it came time for
Buddy Sullivan (Sapelo), the common denominator
was me. Then Stephen Doster (Cumberland) came
in. Mary Jane at G.J. Ford had the (Cumberland)
book before I did and sold her first shipment in one
day. I tell people if you have those four books, you
have so much history. I’m nowhere near done
documenting the Georgia Coast. I definitely have
my sights on more photography.