Illuminating Vulnerability

Look, see, think and feel with the Lumin Project

By Matt Maenpaa  »  Photos by Lisa Siciliano, Dog Daze Photo

In Lisa Siciliano’s documentary series, the Lumin Project, stark images depict a dying man’s resignation, showcasing the peace evident on his face. His trust and connection are equally apparent as he gazes directly into the lens of the camera, seemingly peering into the soul of the photographer. This poignant moment, captured in a minimalist black and white portrait, shares space with shots portraying protest, grief and celebration alike.

The common thread binding each photograph together is vulnerability.

For over 27 years, Siciliano has honed her craft as a professional photographer, specializing primarily in capturing the electrifying scene of live concerts. Her remarkable journey with Dog Daze Photos has afforded her the opportunity to immortalize iconic moments, serving as the esteemed house photographer at prestigious venues such as Red Rocks. Yet, Siciliano’s lens doesn’t solely focus on grand stages; she also adeptly captures the intimacy of performances at renowned locales like The Fox, Boulder Theater and beyond. 

For the last few years, Siciliano has been building the Lumin Project, a photography series that casts light on things often overlooked or unseen. The work varies from raw portraiture and candid moments to journalistic snapshots of protests and cultural celebrations. For Siciliano, it’s about showing all aspects of humanity, even the harder ones, and allowing the viewer to form their own experience.

“I’m really good at showing all sides of things, the good and the bad, and letting people see and judge for themselves,” Siciliano says. “I don’t ever want to sway people, I just want them to see it, feel it and think for themselves.”

That journalistic and documentary intent sweeps like a current through her body of work, in which every shot is captured on black and white film. Siciliano joined millions in the Black Lives Matter protests, filling rolls of film with the actions of civilians and police. Much further afield, her travels took her to the bayous of Louisiana to witness a Cajun Mardi Gras festival and showcase elaborate handmade costumes, gleeful families and a centuries-old tradition.

“It was out in the rural country, and they do it like they did in the 1800s,” Siciliano explains. “They use all these different rags to put these costumes together, going on horseback from house to house; they chase a chicken.” Although Sicilano, a long-time vegetarian, didn’t enjoy watching that chicken become gumbo, she recognized the significance of capturing that moment.

In a more intimate, vulnerable setting, she took photos of a peer and close friend that had been dying from cancer, just a week before his death.

“My friend, when I shot with him before he died, that was one of the hardest things I ever did, but he was so grateful,” Siciliano says. “Soren was a rock and roll photographer, we started at the same time. I went over a week before he died, and he looked like a skeleton, he looked terrible, but he said he couldn’t believe someone wanted to not only see him but document him.”

Through the moments of hardship and joy, her focus remains on helping people feel truly seen and understood. To do that, Siciliano has learned to hone in on her empathy, to open herself up and make that connection with the subject. The power and success of this practice is evident in the eyes of the people she photographs, whether it’s the joy of the elderly or the placid, pierced faces of Denver punk rockers.

As one of the inaugural entries in the Lumin Project, Siciliano dedicated time to capturing the streets of Denver, where she encountered a group of punk rock kids in full regalia. She was so captivated by the results that she included large-format metal prints of the kids in her annual gallery show.

“I put these kids up huge, on metal, and their parents came to the show and were so proud,” Siciliano says. “Two of the parents came to me and cried, because their kid had never been seen and now, they were up on the wall. It was so sweet to see, and it made me feel really, really good.”

While she plans to continue her photography endeavors, Siciliano emphasizes that her main focus this year will be expanding the Lumin Project. Alongside her annual rock and roll photography show, she aspires to curate a dedicated gallery showcasing the Lumin series. Additionally, she is in the process of developing a book spotlighting the street photography aspect of the project, among other initiatives aimed at advancing this self-funded endeavor.

To view more of Siciliano’s work, visit luminproject.com and dogdazephoto.com.