I built my first darkroom in 1970 at the age of 16, and began a lifelong fascination with photography. Over the years I have built 7 more. I studied photography formally at the University of Illinois from 1973-77 under the tutelage of Art Sinsabaugh, Robert Flick and Luther Smith. During these years I discovered the Daybooks of Edward Weston and was influenced by Weston’s journals as much as his photographic images.
Although my professional life has been in marketing and manufacturing, photography has been a constant part of my life. Spending hours hiking through the woods or city streets with camera and tripod is a truly revitalizing experience for me. The search for the perfect combination of light and shape is one that I hope never ends.
In the last few years I have given up the long hours in the darkroom and gone digital. Although the tools are different, the process of trying to create the print I originally envisioned is still always a challenge.
In 2017 I retired from my day job and started a new adventure, moving to Greenville SC where I am able to devote much more time to my passion for photography.
I have photographs in the permanent collections of the Krannert Museum of Art in Champaign, Illinois and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as numerous private collections in the US and abroad.
All of the photos on this website can be purchased directly from me by Emailing me at jimwallar@gmail.com. Prices range from $50 for a 13 x 19 print to $185 for a matted and framed 16 x 20.