Takes Coordination and Integration The image of workers framed by a steel lattice—particularly with the number painted on the beam in the upper left corner—calls to mind one of the many lessons learned from the Apollo space program. Whole systems management. For this office building—system—to exist it had first to be envisioned. And then, for […]
In my experience, more people seem to be moved more by color photographs than black and white. That’s understandable—color is more visually stimulating and it’s how we see the world. Our brains are wired for it. In our photography classes at RIT we sometimes heard some adage: “If you can’t make it good, make it […]
In ordinary everyday living, as entropy increases there comes a point when a decision needs to be made regarding a system’s status—keep it going, shore it up or abandon it. Building or establishing a system—an object, relationship, business or social enterprise—is creative and exciting. The investment of time, energy and money flows easily in the […]
Life’s determination to expand from a center or core Layering is how many things grow organically—from the inside out. Metaphorically, when we want to understand an object, system or process we “peel away” the layers so we can see what’s inside or what’s happening. It’s the basis for analysis, taking things apart to look “under […]
My father didn’t tell me how to live. He lived, and let me watch him do it. Clarence Budington Kelland, American writer Here’s a selection of images, reflections on automobile surfaces, for dads. 1948 Buick Roadmaster 1973 Corvette Stingray 1949 Oldsmobile 1973 Corvette 1942 Willis 1949 Oldsmobile 1948 Chevrolet 1948 Buick 1934 Ford 2003 Ford […]
The wider our view, the more we can encompass In a previous blog I noted that it’s the brain that sees, not the eyes which send data via electrical impulses to the brain where they are interpreted to make seeing instantaneously possible. The image above, taken with a zoom lens, reveals something about perception—beyond merely […]
In the eyes of animals In this image I see perfection, a creature perfectly adapted to and living in harmony with its environment. Full disclosure, I tend to view all animals that way. By that I mean they are fully what and who they are, true to their nature with no desire to be other […]
Luxuries that need to be maintained and improved upon It didn’t take the drought in the West or lead in the water in Flint, Michigan for me to appreciate the abundance of clean water we have in Cincinnati, Ohio. Not always, but many times when I’m taking a shower, washing my hands or watching the […]
The application of skill and imagination to create new things I’ve long thought that typewriters were amazing. I used the above machine in my freshman year of college. The image called out to me, so I decided to try and understand why. Consulting the web, I discovered that in 1575 an Italian printmaker named Francesco […]
I came across the following from Thomas Merton. I’ve never read a better description. Contemplation is the highest expression of man’s intellectual and spiritual life. Is that life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive. It is a spiritual wonder. It is spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life, of being. […]
Contemplative Photography 