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 the surface” in order to discover the “underlying […]
In nature and in the world of man-made objects, geometric order evidences the interrelatedness of all things. Using the above image as a model, humanity may be said to consist of a single string within the spacetime continuum. Rather than forming a straight line—the way we experience time—the process of human evolution has been […]
My dad, a toolmaker for Ford Motor Company, used to say he could make anything out of metal. He also said, “The difficult I can do tomorrow; the simple takes a little longer.” It’s the same with photography—or any kind of art or design endeavor. Nature is in the complexity business. Attempts toward simplicity however, […]
As we transition into Autumn, rather than post a series of images—as I did through the summer months—I’ll return to the original format of posting a single image with a brief, associated contemplation. As stated on the home page, the purpose of this blog is to, by way of demonstration, encourage you to use […]
Between here and the volcano, in the middle of Lake Atitlan, there is a submerged Maya ruin the size of a small city. One of the many docking areas in Lake Atitlan. Hand-made conoes lining the bank at Lake Atitlan. Laundry day at Lake Atitlan—probably every day for many women. This farmer terraced his hill in order […]
I’ve always been attracted to things nautical: ships, boats, rope, sail and rigging, running paint and patterned reflections. Beyond function, I delight in the surfaces, textures, rhythms and forms that I find on piers, docks, harbors and marinas. They interrupt light beautifully, illuminating the full spectrum of aesthetic dimensions— line, contrast, shadow, gradation, texture […]
For me, one of the best things about summer in Ohio is corn! Considering my affinity toward Central America, I prefer the term “maize.” It’s an Indian word meaning “sacred mother,” or “giver of life.” The ancient Maya creation story features the maize god—referred to as “First Father.” When the waters that covered the earth receded, […]
A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed… It feels an impulsion… this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see […]
Photographing on the American Great Plains was heavenly—not only for what was there but also for what was not there. In 2012 I ambled the backroads of South Dakota and Nebraska for ten days, intent on capturing space—rather than landscapes or objects. My interest in “space” as a creative challenge was sparked by readings […]
Peony Flowers know the secret of beauty. 130 million years ago, plants learned that modifications in their form, texture, color, and odor can evoke the experience of beauty in other sentient beings. And they have been doing it ever since, wherever plants grow. Still today, flowers exercise the power of attraction as a reproductive strategy—so strongly, that 70 billion units of consciousness […]
Contemplative Photography 