About Photography

“ Even though fixed in time, a photograph evokes as much feeling as that which comes from music or dance. Whatever the mode – from the snapshot to the decisive moment to multi-media montage – the intent and purpose of photography is to render in visual terms feelings and experiences that often elude the ability of words to describe. In any case, the eyes have it, and the imagination will always soar farther than was expected. “   

Ralph Gibson

I love photography because I love life – a life where every corner of it is brimming with aliveness and relevance if only we just take the trouble to really look and see. To me, nothing is unworthy of being photographed – everything has an infinite fascination and depth for us to observe and wonder in the transitory presence of the ‘now’ moment.  Arguably it is photography’s primary mission to try and capture this precious, ephemeral ‘thing.‘ In that respect photography is very much aligned with the Japanese notion of aesthetics: wabi sabi – a state of mind, a state of being where full attention, full concentration is given to the unfolding of the ‘majestic,‘ present moment. And when we bring this form of mindfulness to our vision we start to see things differently, with much more clarity and insight to penetrate even deeper levels of reality. Photography allows me to record life in all its infinitely rich diversity and quirky details like no other medium can and for this I’m supremely grateful. The act of photography is undoubtedly steeped deeply in significance and meaning that works on many different creative levels, however these may not always be apparent to the undiscerning eye:

•  On one level photography is engaged with recording history. Stopping and arresting time – the fleeting instant before it evaporates and is gone forever.

• On another it could be considered sociological/anthropological research work going out to uncover social patterns, issues and concerns that are played out on the ‘human stage’.

• On another it contains psychological/emotional resonance and poignancy that can quickly convey human sensitivities and sensibilities – our innermost core feelings and emotions.

• Yet another is the aesthetic dimension, for photography is undoubtedly an art and a fine art at that concerning itself with a sophisticated visual culture/canon that expresses, pictorially our shared existence, our rich humanity.

To participate in photography is to participate in life, to be fully connected to it in ways that can only enlarge us as human beings. My lifetime journey with the camera, observing and recording, as brought me rich rewards in terms of opening up new layers of awareness, new frontiers of consciousness that I would never have expected. That’s why I always carry a camera with me as a daily practice, a daily discipline; I don’t want to end up with the regrets of Colette who said: “What an interesting life I had. And how I wished I had realized sooner!”