Indianapolis-based artist Grant Ighile wrote of Santa Monica Pier and his work at Aurora PhotoCenter:

“My father and I traveled to California in May of 2025, and on our final day we drove along the Pacific Coast Highway. This photograph was captured at our last stop, the Santa Monica Pier. I was struck by how the Santa Monica Mountains remained visible through the soft haze and sun on the horizon. I chose to photograph the scene on medium-format film to capture its scale while preserving the range of tones in the waves, sun, and mountains.

I work in both digital and film photography, with a particular fondness for medium format film. Joining Aurora has allowed me to connect with other photographers and dive deeper into film  photography. Developing and printing in the darkroom has given me greater control over the final image. And becoming a member at Aurora has provided access to equipment, techniques, and perspectives I might not have discovered otherwise.”