Roots of my vision…

As a photographer, it’s vital to have a vision, and to always keep your mind and heart tuned in and focused on that vision. There’s so much noise in the world, so many things that distract us, stress us, and compete for space in our consciousness. For me, a photographer’s vision is like a true arrow, pointing toward what is meaningful and honest about what I do. Earlier this week, while I was in the midst of the buzz of activities that consumes my life, I was struck by the stark, drama of the landscape outside my window. I stopped what I was doing, collected my gear, and stepped outside. It brought me back to what I love, what moves me. I never want to lose those roots, because they keep me centered, grounded and give meaning to what I do. Hope you enjoy…

The ongoing quest…

I love the exercise of finding something beautiful among the seemingly mundane. It’s a great way to keep my photographer’s eye in shape–continually training it to see the forms, colors, and textures that come together to form an artistic composition. You’ll notice I use the word “training” and “exercise.” The quest to better my photography in this way is never-ending. Which is just fine with me. It’s a journey, and as a photographer, I enjoy every step along the way.

If a tree falls…

 

So regarding the age-old philosophical question: “If a tree falls and no one is there, does it make a sound?” Well, if you are in the nearby vicinity, the answer is “yes!” An ear-splitting crack, actually. Last night, we had the spookiest weather imaginable for Halloween night, with 20-30 mile wind gusts that shook the foundations of the homes and… apparently some longstanding oaks as well. It’s easy to see how this one could not withstand the buffeting of the wind, which went on for several hours on end. Nature sure had fun welcoming in November around here!

Now you see it…

 

This image represents one aspect of what keeps me challenged, and forever thirsty, in my passion for the photographic arts: capturing that “moment” as you are seeing it in real time, and forever encasing it in pixels and perhaps dots on paper in the same  way you originally experienced it. How many  photographs actually do this?  This beautiful morning scene drew me in a week or so ago, on one of the first full days of autumn. It was about 7:00 a.m., and the dew was so moist it was literally dripping off the leaves; the shafts of sunlight were radiating through the branches and the fog, creating an otherworldly effect in what is normally an unremarkable rural setting near our neighborhood. But the moment… the moment was pristine. I framed, clicked, reframed… but  even as I shot, I could tell, somehow, the beauty of the fog-laden air, the clean, refreshing aromas, might never be truly represented by my efforts. Even so, I continued shooting until the sun rose so high that the shafts disappeared and the morning’s magical essence faded away. I hope a bit of it remains in my photograph, and I hope you enjoy…

Why I do, what I do…

 

Photography offers me a constant journey of discovery. It offers infinite ways to transcend the limitations of our everyday experiences into something wondrous, meaningful, and even soulful. For me, that’s as important as air to breath, and it’s what draws me back, behind the lens, time after time. Hope you enjoy…

Through the looking glass…

Since I was a little girl, I have been enamored by deer. Their silent existence, their seamless grace, those big eyes… what’s not to love? This summer our family has been graced by two families of deer living in a tiny thicket at the back of our yard. Two does gave birth to three fawns, and every couple of days, they wander out at a time when I happen to be glancing out the window, which causes me, each time, to stand entranced as if I’ve never seen such a creature before.

This particular morning they wandered to a vantage point with a very near window, and though I am usually loathe to try to shoot through glass (except that which exists within my lens!) I went for it. Perhaps they are NatGeo-worthy, but I am glad to have captured a bit of their essence, up close, for my own memories. Hope you enjoy…

Spring visitors…

 

Nothing terribly deep this time…. just a little lighthearted musing now that spring is in full swing. It is such a delight to welcome all the new neighbors, furred and feathered, as they appear once again now that the spring temperatures are so inviting. Say hello to this little guy, who was nice enough to stop for a moment and let me take his portrait. Welcome spring! Hope you enjoy…

Life as Art….

 

One of my favorite themes as a photographer is to try to create images that capture the artistic essence in the natural world. Art, as they say, truly is in the eye of the beholder, so  what resonates with me is completely subjective. Like any artist, I accept that premise and, while it’s a pleasure when I can strike a  chord with those who view or follow my work, it is not acceptance that drives me. Photography for me is an inner passion, an outward expression of thoughts, feelings, and emotions as I find them reflected in a subject or composition.  High minded? Perhaps. Is this image a picture of a cactus, or does it represent a beautiful symmetry of purpose, each geometric row of needles aligned in a perfect tactical position to defiantly defend this succulent life form against harm? The answer is, it is both, it’s more, and it’s whatever you see in it, as well. This is why I love  photography; this is what moves me to create. Hope you enjoy…

Last vestiges of autumn…

 

As the world around me turns increasingly grey and brown in January, I often yearn for the season gone by, even as I look forward to new treasures ahead. In looking back over the last several weeks of shooting, I recently came across this early December image, just waiting to be shared. This delicate leaf was just hanging on when I shot it one breezy morning… one of the last leaves to join all the others, disintegrating into mulch, creating fodder for new life in the spring. I am drawn to compositions like this because I love to be able to capture that “moment in time” when even the smallest, often overlooked, aspects of nature can be contemplated, and a greater meaning can be found. The leaf is long gone by now, but my image, and my memory of the moment, remains. Hope you enjoy…

Winter’s WOW factor…

 

Autumn seems to be all about color. Once those green tones of summer begin to evolve into shades of orange, red, rust, and yellow, photographers (me included) leap to our feet, run about madly and try to soak up the color like a sponge–often shooting hue, instead of true composition. You can’t help it, and I am as guilty as the rest. But then December kicks in, and those remaining leaves are dull brown, the skies often turn blustery or gray, and we are left wondering where it all went.

Luckily, the onset of winter brings another dazzling subject–those dusky winter skies. I am no meteorologist, but I assume the tilt of the earth’s axis as we enter the winter solstice gives the sun’s rays that searing ability to blaze through the clouds and offer some of the most gorgeous, breathtaking sunsets of the year. No matter what the scientific reason, I am literally gasping for breath every time a scene like the one above explodes on the landscape, making even an ordinary setting like my backyard look like a scene-stealing broadway star. Now, that’s WOW factor! Hope you enjoy…