Just Walking Around

Now I’m back to photography! The CoVID19 (Wuhan, Delta, Omicron) pandemic has had a strange effect on me. It is like everything has been on “pause” and that for almost two years! When is normal going to return? Tempus fugit when you’re having fun. But I’ve coined a new phrase, status fugit: nothing ever stays the same. My creative desire took a pretty heavy hit during these times, but my friend and fellow artist, Christophe, challenged me to take my camera out into my immediate environment and play. So I did. On my daily walk, whenever something caught me eye, to see if I could find beauty in everyday things, the mundane.

Fall in Arizona comes late, and there’s not a lot of color, save for the cottonwood trees around our house. But there were subjects out there that caught my attention during my 3 to 5 mile walks, starting on down our dirt road. One of the first is this Arizona White Oak on a neighbor’s property. I show it not because it is a spectacular image, but because it was my first attempt to break out of the doldrums. When I pressed the shutter, it was an act of faith.

The shapes of these trees are magnificent in their height and reach. Although I made this photograph two months ago, today it has still not changed color. Now I pass it nearly every day, eagerly awaiting that transformation, although the sumac has lost its leaves.*

*041822: Turns out the AZ White Oak is considered an evergreen, however, the new leaves in Spring are distinctly yellow-orange-green in color.

In our back yard, we have a modest vineyard from which we make small batch wine for our personal enjoyment. I had an idea to make a photograph walking down the rows between the vines. The leaves are turning and their color is different depending on whether it is reflected or filtered in the early morning light.

But we also have fall colors in the grape leaves, which reminds me of the eastern US. I couldn’t seem to make a conventional image so I resorted to distortion to emphasize these colors.

Another subject that fascinates me is the ubiquitous Arizona Juniper; we are surrounded by them and they come in all sorts of forms. From high and tight to complete senescent disarray, they have a mysterious quality reminiscent of human personalities. I noticed one that called to me every time I passed by and photographed it several times, but each time I failed to discover the portrait I knew was hiding within. Finally, on an overcast day, I came close to capturing its elusive spirit. For some reason, it reminds me of CS Lewis’ description of creeping through fur coats hanging in the dark wardrobe of Narnia.

There is a swale our road passes through as we approach our house. Every time I drive or walk through it, I feel a secret magic. Runoff from monsoons adds to a natural spring. Wild grape vines and black walnut trees stand guard overarching the path and, of course, the cottonwood trees stand as silent witnesses to my passing. I also tried making photographs here, but it seemed to resist my efforts, as if it did not want to be discovered. Finally, I had to try a different strategy to express the mood I feel upon entering into its presence.

Reflecting on this reference to the Apostle Paul, my mother was a deeply spiritual person and an accomplished artist. Impressionistic, she could paint amazing trees. The previous image caused me to wonder if I could make a photograph that would do my mother’s spirit people justice. I’ve not perfected the technique, but I am making progress. I wish she could see.

We were able to travel to South Carolina for Thanksgiving with family and friends. As I took a walk around my friends’ property, most of the Fall color was on the forest floor, yet still a remnant called to me. For some reason, I was in an abstract frame of mind.

This got my creative juices going and I tried another. When I returned home and processed the image, I thought of all the wildfires around the country, flames and viral. Even the terrible can be beautiful, if we can lift our eyes to see it.

In closing, I leave you with a wish and a prayer for the season. May the coming year bring peace and prosperity. May we emerge from trials stronger, more loving. May we treasure the gifts of friends and family, even the difficult ones 😉, for these too shall pass. Status fugit.

These images and more can be found on my website: Projects, Currently Working On… (link). Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year!

Faces of Inferno

Unprecedented