Brian Lewis on the business of seeing

After more than five decades shaping Trinidad and Tobago’s built environment, renowned architect and architectural photographer Brian Lewis is preparing to step away from the camera. At 81, Lewis, whose architectural career spans over 40 years, is selling his last camera, donating his extensive library of architectural photography books, and inviting the public to experience his exhibition of black-and-white architectural photographs titled "Last Light."

Lewis, qualified as an architect at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London in 1970, has a lifelong passion for both architecture and photography. His interest in photography began at age 12 when he met fashion photographer Norman Parkinson. Lewis's firm would later design a house for Parkinson in Tobago.

"I donated all my architectural photography books to the T&T Photographic Society. I’m selling off my last camera this week, so I’m kind of preparing to depart," Lewis said in an interview. The exhibition, running at Medulla Art Gallery in Port of Spain until July 25, represents the culmination of a passion that started while documenting his own firm’s projects.

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I donated all my architectural photography books to the T&T Photographic Society. I’m selling off my last camera this week, so I’m kind of preparing to depart.

Lewis deliberately chose to present the photographs in black and white for "Last Light." He intends this approach to challenge audiences accustomed to colorful imagery and encourage them to look more carefully and understand architecture better. "I’m not doing it to get accolades. I’m actually doing it to educate, in a subtle way, the art community, because photography is often not considered fine art. I think that’s a grave error," he stated.

His message extends to the business of architecture itself, as Lewis believes many architects underestimate the commercial value of professional architectural photography. He asserts that a good photograph of a building can significantly impact its perception and marketability.

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I’m not doing it to get accolades. I’m actually doing it to educate, in a subtle way, the art community, because photography is often not considered fine art. I think that’s a grave error.