The Chemistry of Memory

The first monograph by acclaimed fine-art photographer Lara Porzak, The Chemistry of Memory, is a 240 hardcover with open-sewn binding, presenting over 150 images, many never before published, in a single, definitive volume. Working exclusively with analog techniques such as tintypes and gelatin silver printing, Porzak crafts photographs that function as both images and physical artifacts. Spanning three decades of work, the book moves pastoral scenes and still lifes shaped by Porzak’s sustained engagement with the natural world. The images shift among open environments of animals, flora, celestial forms, and the human experience. A deeply personal conversation with Porzak’s mother, the Pulitzer Prize–nominated novelist Marianne Wiggins, is woven throughout the book. Their dialogue reflects on photography, aging, language, memory, and the physical act of making the visual a lyrical exchange between image and word. The Chemistry of Memory is a reflective volume that considers how photographs can carry experience, feeling, and presence over time.

About the Author

Lara Porzak is a Los Angeles-based photographer working exclusively with the analog techniques of tintypes and gelatin silver prints from black and white film. Often developing her images on-site using a mobile darkroom, she creates intimate, handcrafted photographs that feel like memory made visible. Porzak’s practice spans over 20 solo exhibitions and is rooted in emotional resonance, timeless methods, and the tactile beauty of traditional photography. Her work is held in the Getty Museum’s collection and has been exhibited at Aspen Art Fair, Bergdorf Goodman, and Hôtel de Crillon, with features in Architectural Digest. Lara Porzak is represented by The Spaceless Gallery.