Untitled, from the "Recoil" series

Armed with a medium format camera and a long cable-release, photographer Greg Stimac releases the shutter as his subjects open fire. The pictures in his series Recoil sometimes catch the blur of bullets leaving the barrel or a momentary burst of light and smoke, but they are more remarkable for the relationships suggested between the people in the frame. The shooters range from intent to casual, their companions demonstrating anything from total absorption to mild curiosity to an indifference bordering boredom. Stimac began this exploration of gun use as recreation during the summer of 2004 and has made repeat trips to half a dozen unregulated ranges, mostly in Missouri and California.

Credit: Museum purchase