03 Photography

In photography, it is said that light is everything. But it is the interplay of light and shadows which captures the viewers interest. The interplay invites the viewer to study and search the intricacies of the image.

As water freezes, it can form innumerable enticing patterns. Many of these images would be considered abstract art, and rightly so.

How was rock formed? According to the best scientific information, our Earth formed some 4.6 billion years ago from a disk of dust and gas circling the sun. Slowly this collection coalesced into solid rock. The oldest known rock is found in Greenland, with samples estimayed to be 3.8 billion years old. Greenland itself was once part of the supercontinent Pangea, and over time has migrated through the tropics to its present day location in the Arctic. In the United States the oldest known rock maybe at the base of the Grand Canyon, with the Vishnu Schist measuring 1.8 billiuon years old, a mere youngster. The colorful Valley Of Fire in Nevada most likely formed approximately 150 million years ago. With teutonic plate movement and volcanic activity world wide, new rock is constantly being exposed.This collection is but a small sample of the Earth’s variety of rock.

Spending a week in a small North Dakota farming community was an education. In addition to observing the way and pace of life in this breadbasket, we were privileged to be granted access to 20 odd abandoned farm houses and several churches. We saw life as it was and wondered who was it that lived in these structures which held so many secrets.

Everyday life across America has been documented by many famous photographers, including Walker Evans, Eudora Welty and Dorothea Lange to mention a few. In my travels I have searched out the simpler life, both past and present. This life is a far cry from the glass towers of our large cities.

The Central Highlands Of Iceland are primarily a volcanic desert, devoid of vegetation. Sections of this plateau look other worldly. At lower altitude the lava is covered in moss of varying thickness. Ancient calderas litter the landscape. The photographic experience is heightened by steaming furamoles and multi-colored Rhyolite. Glacial melt leads to fast flowing rivers laden with silt. These Braided Rivers create spectacular abstract forms.

For a photographer with a passion for capturing black and white images, fog is Nirvana. The light is soft, diffuse enveloping the subject at hand. Only the visual sense is stimulated. The eye strains to identify the light gray object in the distance. But like life, fog is fleeting. Don’t miss it, rise early and explore. The reward is priceless.

What attracts our eyes to a door. It can be the unique architectural features as seen in the series of images of doors taken in Stonetown on the Island of Zanzibar. Or it may be the simplicity seen in doors of the early meeting houses. An open or partially ajar door directs our vision to the interior- what lies behind this portal? These individual features define  the structure we stand before.

Artists create vibrant paintings with the use of color pigments . Mother Nature creates equally vibrant color and patterns secondary to minerals and pigments found in soil and rock. This collection exemplifies the remarkable results found in multiple locations on our planet.

Pull up a chair, rest your feet and relax. Upon entering a room, instinctively you look for a seat. Worldwide, a seat takes various forms- tree trunks, a big rock, a comfortable, padded chair or a solid wooden one. A group of chairs will always stimulate conversation.

One of the photographic highlights of my career was navigating the Scoresby Sund in Eastern Greenland, the longest fjiord in the world. Massive glaciers calving enormous icebergs and rock formations which would tantalize any geologist. In addition to this we experienced multiple nights of the Aurora Borealis and a closeup encounter with a polar bear and Musk Ox.. Towards the end of our journey, we came upon a ancient crystalline iceberg, like a jewel radiant in multiple shades of blue.

Sadly, global warming may cause all of this to disappear unless we all work to reduce carbon emissions.

Slot canyons are a photographer’s delight. On the surface of the desert floor, they appear as nondescript crevasses in the sandstone or limestone rock. However, upon entering the canyon, the magic begins. The play of light on the narrow, steep walls create an ever changing combination of hues, light and shadows. Antelope Canyon, outside of Page, Arizona is one of the most beautiful of these slot canyons.

Any time is a good time to visit the Eastern Sierras, but fall is special. There is something about the quality of the light in the fall; It is warm, caressing, more angular. The foliage cooperates with the Aspen leaves, turning bright yellow, orange and red. Pre dawn and post sunset the Aspen trunks appear to glow. Mono Lake offers spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

Nestled in New York Harbor, Ellis Island was the entry point for
immigrants coming to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th
century. Since then, many of the buildings have suffered the ravages
of time and fallen into disrepair. Special photographic tours to benefit
the Save Ellis Island Foundation offers the opportunity to capture a
significant piece of America’s history.

Though images of flora in color excite the visual sense, the true structure of flowers, plants and leaves are best explored utilizing the craft of black and white photography. Our eyes can appreciate the fine details inherent in flora and juxtaposition of every shade of gray allowing us to appreciate elements of these plants, which, in some ways, color obscures.

After the monochromes of winter in New England, Spring bursts forth with a panoply of color. We are treated to every variation of the color spectrum. In addition to the usual digital camera capture, the development of high end flat bed scanners produce images with remarkable resolution and detail, all captured without having to wait for the wind to relent.

There is a reason they call this canyon grand. From both rims the view is breathtaking, the colors kaleidoscopic. It is difficult to capture its essence photographically, as it is so vast. But to fully appreciate the Grand Canyon, a raft trip down the Colorado River is a must. Traversing its length gives you a cram course in geology. Its side canyons beg to be explored and they don’t disappoint—beauty around each bend.

On the west coast of Africa lies the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world. Miles upon miles of rust covered dunes afford unending photographic opportunities. These dunes provide a colorful backdrop to 900-year-old camel thorn Trees in the Dead Vlei. Outside the town of Luderitz sits the deserted mining camp of Kolmanskop. As Mother Nature slowly reclaims the site, one finds a wonderful juxtaposition of brightly painted interiors being encroached by the sands of the desert.

As a freshman in high school, I wrote a term paper on the ascent of Mount Everest by Hillary and Norgay. From then on, I was transfixed. It became my life’s fantasy to go to Nepal and Everest. No technical climbing for me, just a trek to the mountains to pay homage. The dream became reality in 1994, leading to 3 additional treks with one to include Tibet. The scenery is literally breath taking, the people warm and beautiful. Life long friendships were forged. Yes, some dreams really do come through.

I was born in New York City and as a toddler was awed by how the buildings seemingly touched the sky. Decades later, that feeling remains. I have a soft spot for the architecture in the city that never sleeps, particularly in lower Manhattan. Exploring vacant streets at dawn on a weekend offers unending opportunities to capture these monoliths. Is there any prettier urban park on earth more majestic than Central Park? I’ll take Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn too.

Covering 19,000 square miles of rolling hills in Southeastern Washington and adjacent Idaho and Oregon lies an area called the Palouse. Its growth and harvest of wheat is only exceeded by the Ukraine. From vantage points on Steptoe Butte, the photographer is able to capture wonderful abstract patterns created by the geography. Particularly pleasing is the interplay of highlights and shadows at sunrise and sunset. Numerous grain silos dot the area, affording more photographic opportunities.

 I would love to spend months wandering through the nooks and crannies of the southwest with my camera. The effect of wind and water upon the landscape, the ancient settlements of Native Americans, the vistas into infinity; they all draw me. The National Parks and Monuments will preserve these lands for generations to come, but innumerable sites are at risk for plunder by development. The documentation of these sites by some of the giants of photography has saved potential plundering, but we have much more to do to protect other sites.

Joyce Kilmer wrote in part “I think I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree”. Kilmer’s words speak volumes every time I explore a forest. Each season has it’s special offering.

Utah is an unappreciated state for landscape photography.
Complementing the National Parks and Monuments are state parks
and numerous ancient Native American sites. The topography varies
from mountains to slot canyons, mesas , desert and great stands of
aspens. As soon as you leave the well beaten path, you will be
enraptured with the endless beauty of nature.

Less than an hours drive from Las Vegas lies one of the most colorful places in the United States. That such hues exist in in nature boggles the mind. The small side canyons offer up a kaleidoscope of colors ranging from pastels to vivid greens. The richness of the colors is best appreciated early and late in the day or in deep shade. With luck, the visitor will encounter some of the big horn sheep residing in the park.

Isn’t it interesting how we are drawn to water? We want to build close to it, sit and be mesmerized by it and yes, photograph it. Streams carry our eyes through the scene, we follow their flow they ripple over rock and ice. From seashore to pond, to mountain stream, we are drawn. All forms of water serve as worthy companions to and strengthen the landscapes we photograph.

In some ways, Yellowstone and Yosemite are the Yin and Yang of our national park system. A creation of volcanic activity and ongoing hot springs, Yellowstone is complementary to the shaping of Yosemite by wind, water and glacier. Both offer photographic bonanzas in all four seasons. Though both parks attract millions of visitors, getting off the beaten path takes little effort and offers limitless photographic opportunities.

In an era of rampant poaching, Botswana has been able to reintroduce rhinoceroses to the wild. The country has preserved large areas of open land in the form or Reserves and National Parks. To see all the magnificent wildlife in their natural environment is a true privilege. Sitting for extended periods of time just observing their behavior is fascinating.

Windows are the portal to the history of a structure. What secrets do they reveal or hide. The elaborate construction of a bygone era impresses. Those with broken or absent panes stir our imagination. The glow of a lamp on a nighttime walk draws our attention. Who lives there? What are they doing? We pause and then move on.

Uplift caused by teutonic plate movement over milliuons of years has resulted in mountain range formation on every continent and at the oceans depths. The older ranges have been worn down by rain and wind. All ranges offer spectacular views.