I am a visual artist who uses photography as a space for curiosity, intuition and discovery. I am drawn to the feeling of seeing something for the first time, even in the familiar. My work plays with photography’s ability to hold movement, emotion and the subtle inner life that often escapes the eye. Through the mixed use of digital and analogue processes, I look for moments where the expected dissolves and something more essential comes forward.
I work with medium format slide film, platinum, Polaroid lifts and piezography, treating each process as its own way of sensing the world. The colours, textures and small imperfections that emerge through analogue printing become part of the language I use. These prints often feel like landscapes to me, not in a literal sense but as projection spaces shaped by light, gesture and the passage of time. Ideas of scale, territory and transformation help me situate my practice within the broader field of art.
What matters most is that everything remains in motion. Every frame, every print and every rule of the process is open to surprise. This sense of wonder is what first pulled me toward photography, and it continues to guide me now.
Alongside my own work, I support other artists by helping them sort through the chemistry and technical challenges in their process. I come to this with a background as a pharmacist, which gives me a unique understanding of chemistry, formulation and how materials behave. It feels like a full-circle connection since pharmacies were once common places to buy film chemicals. Helping artists troubleshoot lets them stay focused on expression, and I see that exchange as its own form of creative practice built on care, craft and community.
I offer one-on-one support for artists who want help with printing, chemistry or process questions. Whether you are working through a materials issue, exploring a new technique or troubleshooting darkroom problems, I can help you navigate the technical side so you can stay focused on the creative work.
I also offer talks on photochemistry and the history of photography. I enjoy sharing how different processes evolved, why certain materials behave the way they do, and how science and art continue to shape each other. These sessions are designed for artists, students and anyone curious about the craft behind image making.
James Hull lives and works in Oakville, Ontario.
To learn more or ask a question, feel free to email me.