Jimmy Heath

Photographer JIMMY HEATH lives his life and chooses his subject matter based on intuition. He loves being mobile and documenting his surroundings. Check out what's currently driving Heath to take the next shot.

Joy. There is that great moment when you feel you have come upon the right spot at the right time and the images flow. Nothing makes me happier than a perfect negative.

Discovering my True Art Form. I have tried to paint, but I found something else in photography -- it is more ordered and real. It gets me out on the sidewalk, and the scene is always evolving and changing. There is that sense of tension

Grim Imagery. When I look at my photos, I feel they are somewhat grim, even harsh or sadly happy. It surprises me when people tell me otherwise. The images reflect what I am sensing.

Preparing to go out on a shoot. There is a process and determination that I feel before I grab my gear and go out on the street. There is a ritual to loading the film and cleaning the lens. There also is a danger of having preconceptions about what I'm going to photograph and a tendency to anticipate, which can limit my imagination if I'm not careful.

Feeling as though I have a purpose. My photography really came alive when I moved to Over-the-Rhine 10 years ago. Suddenly, I found a true purpose for my work, a way to change perceptions while challenging people's notions about the neighborhood.

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ARTICULATIONS offers five things important to one of Cincinnati's visual artists.