A form of expression that unites persons, community, culture and cosmos Maya “Long Nose” dance. Dressed as the long-nosed Ek Chuah, God of merchants and patron of cacao, the dancer acts out the impregnation of Lady Xquic, daughter of a Xibalba (underworld) lord. The man on the left beats a drum. Ek Chuah has a […]
Within every social and global tragedy, the light of love, compassion, goodwill and truth shines through the darkness. Acknowledging it and appreciating its appearance demonstrates that virtue lives in the hearts of many people. It gives us hope for the future and a reason to persist in right thinking and socially constructive behavior. Seeing others […]
As above, so below One of the benefits of a photographic image is that it presents us with a moment, usually a fraction of a second, and holds us there afterward so we can reflect and appreciate the subject matter—and possibly some significance it might have. The live scene or situation in front of the […]
Texture influences how we experience the world through the sense of touch—directly. The tactile sense is so acute and pervasive, images of texture are enough to elicit an experience vicariously. This makes it an important tool for communication and creative expression. When looked at up close or under a microscope, what makes an object textured […]
In geometry, a “point” is a single location. A “line” is an extension of a point, an elongated mark, a connection between two points or the edge of an object or situation. Artist Paul Klee said, “A line is a dot out for a walk.” Practically speaking, lines serve to define length, distance, and shape. […]
This is the third of 26 postings in the series, “The Aesthetic Dimensions.” The first, posted January 6, 2019, explains the series and deals with “Abstraction.” To follow, go to <davidlsmithcontemplativephotography.com> and click on “Follow” (bottom right corner of the Home page). The postings will show up in your mailbox every Sunday morning. Objectively speaking, […]
Light by Rabindranath Tagore Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light! Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the center of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth. The butterflies spread their sails on […]
This past week I gave myself a birthday present—four days of photographing in the rolling farmlands of Central Ohio. I thought I would share a few of the images, particularly those shot around sunrise. An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. Henry David Thoreau Nature’s […]
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 […]
It is highly significant that light was the first creation of the universe. Light, existing outside of time and space, is the metaphysical link between the timeless eternity that preceded our universe and the world of time space and matter within which we live. Gerald Schroeder 1948 Buick Roadmaster 1973 Corvette Stingray 1949 Oldsmobile 1973 […]
Contemplative Photography 