The heart works. May it pump, flow, oxygenate, and enrich our lives for time unbound. The heart sparks. May it beat strong in clear, steady time setting rhythm to keep our lives apace. The heart thunders. May it power the intense moments where we need it most. A thundering thump drumming quickening cues reminding all we yet live. The heart rests. In the quiet moments of sleep, thought, meditation, and reflection it resets the world. The heart bleeds. May it work yet through the sad times, a solemn lament forlorn for those lost. The heart loves. Our epicenter of joy, kindness, fulfillment, and love. It fills our bodies and fulfills our world with the unbowed energy of peace and love for all time. The destiny of heart is love.
Near on five years later I have made a companion photograph to tango with I’d love to see you in that dress. I am not breaking any ground in stating flowers evoke a feminine grace. Here, as it was five years past, that grace manifests in the likeness of a lithe dancer transfixing us with her craft. Her pirouette moves and shifts the dress setting our hearts to flutter. With the calendar’s turn to spring I look forward to capturing more of nature’s dancers shining light upon our lives.
Of course a shout-out to the incomparable Elton John for the lyrically inspired title.
Magnolia Season — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/400
For a long while my Jane Magnolia has suffered through meager blooms. About five years back, powered by eagerness and inexperience, I pruned my magnolia a little too much. I did it in spring instead of fall, too. Regardless, it has seen lackluster blooms ever since. Ten or so blossoms at that was about it. Sure, they still flaunted their power purples, but the showing was sparse at best. This year it turned a corner. Dozens of purple wonders splayed out in fine style.
In this photograph I present here a dreamy rendition of a Jane Magnolia blossom. Marked by soft lines and blurred curves the viewer falls easy into the whimsy. Evoking a mood of modesty and beauty. The vertical orientation lengthens the composition and settles the eye on the sharp leading edge of the front petal. Horizontally situated toward the lower third of the frame, it is the only part of the photograph captured in focus. The bokeh pulls back the frame from there, blending the accompanying petals through lessening degrees of focus.
I love making this kind of macro. The mix of a pastel colors, soft flowing lines, minimal focus and maximal bokeh allows the eye to work over the photograph. From here the viewer fills in the gaps. They hear their own stories; see their own enchantment. Flora evokes emotions and memories unique to us all. This here is a canvas set for your imagination to work upon. Magnolia season welcomes all.
Sand to Snow | Captured: January 5, 2018 | Location: Harvey Cedars Sunset Park, Harvey Cedars, New Jersey
2018 began a proper tundra. Far flung neighbors from the northern reaches of Manitoba may have felt right at home staring out over the southwestern shores of Hudson Bay. I was about as cold as I can remember making this photograph and striking arctic vista aside, my primary takeaway from this venture into the meat locker was of my contact lenses freezing over. Rapid blinking and jumping jacks were essential in getting me through this forty-five minute freeze along the shores of Barnegat Bay. Photo-wise, things were looking great to start out 2018.
In and Out — 35mm | f/1.4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/2000
In and Out | Captured: May 11, 2018 | Location: Ocean Acres, New Jersey
Yeah, that’s right, a big jump from January to May. Not much doing over the winter so we are skipping right to spring flowers. Here we have a photograph I made of my front yard spirea bush. Compositionally, I am drawn to the interplay of soft focus, shallow depth of field, and the working of the post and rail wood fence set against the delicate blossoms. This macro photograph is a reminder of my roots—cutting my teeth in 2012, shooting flowers as I was learning my way about a camera.
Prime Peony — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/320
Prime Peony | Captured: May 26, 2018 | Location: Ocean Acres, New Jersey
Straightforward approach with this photograph. Center weight macro of a fresh bloomed peony in all its pastel pink petal glory. Soft focus and simplicity work very well here; and it’s a fair demonstration that a subject placed right smack in the middle of your frame is the way to go. Sure we talk up the rule of thirds and avoiding this sort of composition, but sometimes I is best to toss away the rule book to let your subject shine.
The Forest and the Trees — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/50
The Forest and the Trees | Captured: June 16, 2018 | Location: Baker’s Acres Campground, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey
This pine forest composition is not overwhelming in its precision or wow factor, and in a more prolific year it probably doesn’t make the cut, but it is getting the nod in 2018. It’s departure from my usual marsh sunset/flower macro motif, plus it’s rich green and yellow coloring and line work, make it a viable contrast to my standard body of work. Sometimes an imperfect thing a little different is better than perfection we readily seek.
Some Summer Night — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures
Some Summer Night | Captured: June 29, 2018 | Location: Cedar Run Dock Road, West Creek, New Jersey
Finally a shot in my wheelhouse. Longtime followers—thank you—will recognize this marsh sunset as an exemplar for my standard body of work. This is square in my comfort zone, and while 2018 was a down year for my photography—particularly fiery sunsets over the marsh—it is nice to have a solid one to drop in this year’s annual retrospective. I just love the way that vibrant, young marsh green works against the pinks, purples, and blues as day passes on into night. There is nothing quite like June on the marsh.
Corona — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/80
Corona | Captured: July 9, 2018 | Location: Ocean Acres, New Jersey
Purple coneflowers, ladies and gentlemen. They are beautiful and wonderful to photograph, and depending on the day of the week they are probably my favorite flowers. For folks looking to get into photography, particularly macro photography, coneflowers will lend you a splendid muse throughout all phases of its lifecycle. Early bloom, full blossom, and even in death, they make a forgiving subject that will have you looking like a pro in no time. As an added bonus they provide a great food source to our insect friends giving you some added joy to practice with. Considering this has been my iPhone wallpaper for the past six months its inclusion in this list was a foregone conclusion.
Reaching Out | 100mm | f/4 | ISO 1600 | EXP 1/200
Reaching Out | Captured: September 16, 2018 | Location: Ocean Acres, New Jersey
Hey, I told you purple coneflowers make great subjects through all phases of their lifecycle. Here, the same plant we saw above was in its death throes providing home base for a silver-spotted skipper caterpillar. Excellent. The anchor of this composition is all about the negative space. Some three-quarters of this photograph is nothing but muted greens and purples. Plenty of room to breathe. This lends all the narrative drama to our caterpillar friend who finds herself reaching out into the void, seeking her next phase of existence; a transformation into something wholly new and beautiful.
Blue Steps — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 3.2 sec
Blue Steps | Captured: November 18, 2018 | Location: Cedar Run Dock Road, West Creek, New Jersey
Batting cleanup, Blue Steps. Here we arrive at my big hitter in an otherwise thin year. But I confidently declare this photograph would hold up even in my best and most productive years. This blue hour special had that je n’ais se quoi from the get go. Making the shot I knew this one was special. The last of magic hour moody blue light, dead calm seas, and an intricate dock structure on its way toward dereliction. There’s a quality to this image that keeps the viewer locked in, comfortably gazing and setting the mind at ease. It’s no question my personal favorite from 2018.
Partner X — 35mm | f/1.4 | ISO 800 | EXP 1/80
Partner X | Captured: December 2, 2018 | Location: Bask Hot Yoga, Brick, New Jersey
Devastating changeup. Here’s where I share my new pitch, a total departure from my standard repertoire. In early December I engaged in an actual yoga photo shoot with actual yoga people. It was intimidating and intense, but I better for having given it a shot. Here’s where we turn it into a human interest piece: my girlfriend, Rose, pictured here and highlight of my year, gave me the proper prodding to get out there and do this. Like all great partners she has been a source of inspiration, hope, and the proper kind of growth inducing discomfort.
Coda
Photographic productivity was in short in 2018, and yes, this retrospective does not feature my customary 12 photographs, but I am not going to use this space to go out on a sour note. Life threw me plenty of sweet blessings in 2018: improved health, a wonderful mother/daughter combo, good friends, and a budding yoga practice. Yet while I centered time elsewhere I have not forgotten about photography as a cornerstone in both my personal and creative wellness. While I am not making any specific promises now, I assure you I will be back and better than ever with my photo work in 2019, setting aside a bit more time to return this blog, and more important, this essential hobby. Cheers and thanks for reading.
The Majestic — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 400 | EXP 1/250
I’m having a pretty great Monday, you guys. I’m burning a welcomed vacation day sitting with my Mac at The Union Market & Gallery—a home away from home. Inches of rain fell this morning but now the south Jersey skies begin to clear. The soggy morning off soon turns to an afternoon of roller coasters and screams at Great Adventure. There will be much rejoicing.
Place matters and this is the first time I’ve typed out a blog post anywhere other than my home office. The change of p(l)ace is nice. Jazzy music firing in the background with pleasant patrons mingling, sipping, and eating. Better yet are three full walls packed floor to ceiling with local art from local artists. Inspiration and good coffee abound at The Union Market—as well as an inspired staff. My takeaway is that I am going to have to come here to process and post photos more often. With any luck this will reignite my photo making which has regrettably fallen of a cliff in 2018. But with four and a half months to go there is still time to salvage 2018.
A brief word about this photograph: Doesn’t this hostamacro remind you of a lion’s mane? It’s the trigger in my brain—a majestic mane unfurled in prideful triumph. The low key treatment adds an extra level of depth and gravitas to the image. Deep and serious—carrying home the intensity and majesty of the moment.
And now back to my not-so-regularly scheduled day off.
Flowered Sun | 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/320
Looking close and slow upon a flower is a practice in patience with which all should partake. Particularly true to heal closed hearts and open stagnant minds. It is both window to the soul and outlet to the universe and it unveils the underpinnings of nature’s truth.
Take this nascent echinacea blossom. Still early in its development, it will soon blossom into its wonderful purple array. Yet here, in this moment of transition, if we look close we see the vast universe mirrored atop a small flower. With my first glimpse this blossom has the look of a sun. Star powered energy pouring forth from a solar atom foundry in its energetic prime.
Or is it teasing us with the esoteric nature of spacetime? The pliable fabric Einstein predicts by way of his theory of General Relativity? The spiraling spires trigger my imagination. I look and I ruminate. I see space curving and folding in response to mass. I see the universe as it is—all atop a flower in transition.
Or do I look only but upon a flower? Should it be so than it would all be worth it for the beauty of the world sets forever before us.
There is regal majesty in the echinacea’s journey from bud to blossom. With the subtlety and finesse borne of fine stock she transforms with noble grace. Gentle petals work outward—a green coronet becoming the crown befitting her station. The purple coneflower corona hits its zenith only to unfurl to its full purple petal. Long and lithe this flower never loses the splendor of its most perfect roots.
Flowers are but a bright spot in an otherwise darkening world. Acrimony, callousness, cynicism, and flagrant distrust envelope our better judgement as a plague. As corrosive distrust and patent injustice unfolds so too do the flowers. Impartial and ignorant to our schemes and machinations, spreading beauty with their grace. Too bad it not up to them to stand in judgement of our folly.
So I made this spirea photograph on May 11, 2018, and here I am blogging it up on June 22. Six weeks later is been than forever weeks later, right? Right!?
Last spring I made a spirea photo which served as a source of pride. I even printed, matted, and signed a few for Makers Fest, and it looked wonderful on photo paper. With a stout bloom thanks to ample rain, I was keen to get back in there to see I could conjure this year.
In this photograph I am executing soft focus and bokeh. Allowing the frame to sit largely out of focus. A pronounced shallow depth of field brings a sliver of sharpness on two narrow planes moving diagonally from left to right across the frame. Falling off in either direction, the spirea blossoms and its lush leaves fade quickly from focus, drifting off to whimsy. This lends a fantasy quality to the image. I can imagine faeries tucking away a touch out of sight, using esoteric magic to float clear from focus. Their secret hides in the bokeh. Drifting out of range of prying eyes and surreptitious lenses.
