This photograph of a Smith & Wesson revolver, created by me, Jesse Jacques, was captured on 8x10 large format film. By reimagining the revolver as a sculptural object, the image transforms an everyday tool into a timeless piece of fine art. Blending artistic depth with commercial appeal, it strikes a balance between creativity and purpose, inviting viewers to see the familiar in unexpected ways.
Hey Everyone, Welcome Back.
I hope your break was everything you needed it to be. For me, it was a mix of good food, a lot of laughter, and just enough time away to come back with a clear head and fresh ideas. It’s funny how stepping away for a bit can help you see things differently, whether it’s your work, your goals, or even an everyday object.
Returning to work has been seamless. I’ve already completed three projects, each with its own energy and creative spark. One of those projects, in particular, felt like the perfect way to kick off the year. It’s a Smith & Wesson revolver, but not in the way you’d expect. This image is about reimagining something familiar, stripping it down to its essence, and letting it stand alone as art.
Recontextualizing Power
What does it take to change how we see the everyday? Sometimes it’s as simple as removing the noise around an object and letting it stand alone.
When I set out to photograph the Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum revolver, my intent wasn’t to focus on its function or its cultural weight but to approach it as a sculptural form. By isolating it from its expected context, stripping it of narrative and emotion, I wanted to see what would emerge when the object was allowed to simply exist.
The revolver is often viewed as a tool of action or violence, preloaded with meanings like protection, authority, or rebellion. But in this image, it becomes something else: a reflection of power reimagined. Its purpose is suspended, inviting us to ask: what gives an object its meaning? Is it inherent, or is it the stories we project onto it?
Duality of Design
I shot the entire project on 8x10 large format film using CatLABS 80 II, developed in Kodak D-76. (This year, I’ve refined my developing process and plan to handle most of my film development personally—it’s an integral part of my creative control.)
In this photograph, the revolver is more than a weapon—it’s a study in balance. The polished steel and textured wood grip reveal its precision craftsmanship, while the composition elevates its functional design into sculptural art.
This duality—a tool designed for destruction, yet embodying the beauty of meticulous craft, mirrors broader truths about human creations. We often design objects that reflect the best and worst of us, balancing utility with aesthetics, and progress with contradiction.
Timelessness Amid Change
Photographed with large format film, the revolver feels detached from time. It’s both a relic of the past and a symbol relevant to the present. In 2025, when society is shaped by shifting narratives and cultural redefinitions, this image holds space for reflection.
Symbols like the revolver evolve, taking on new meanings as the world changes, yet some qualities remain timeless: the way we assign power, balance progress, and preserve design.
This photograph is a quiet reminder that even the most charged objects can be seen differently, depending on the lens—literally and metaphorically.
Art as Reflection
Art has the ability to hold up a mirror, reflecting not just the object but the viewer’s perception of it. In this image, the revolver is reimagined as an abstract form, detached from its associations.
The interplay of light and shadow, the clean lines, and the suspension in space invites deeper engagement. When we strip away an object’s narrative, what meaning remains—and what does that say about us?
This is the heart of this photograph: it’s not just about the revolver but about how we see. It’s about the stories we carry, the assumptions we make, and the space art creates to pause and reflect.
A Visionary Start to 2025
This photograph marks the beginning of a year where I’m diving deeper into the connections between art, perception, and the unseen. Whether through objects, portraits, fashion, or concepts rooted in the cosmic and spiritual, my work continues to explore the forces that shape our reality while offering glimpses of what lies beyond it.
This revolver, suspended and reimagined, serves as both a mirror and a question: how do the objects we create embody the dualities of power and beauty, function and art? And what do they reveal about our evolving relationship with the world around us?
What does this image say to you? How does it challenge the way you see?
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