Nature tells a connected story. Through mindful presence, we learn not just to see it, but to express it.

Minor White said, “When you approach something to photograph, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave until you have captured its essence.”  

 Likewise, forest bathing, a Japanese practice, invites us to immerse ourselves in nature through all five senses. Quiet your mind. Walk slowly. Listen to the birds harmonize with the stream murmuring over stones rounded by time. Notice roots in soil, spongy moss on softened boulders, forest floor cushioned by decaying leaves—each part connected, enduring. Accept that you belong here. Linger.

In this hushed ritual, our photography changes. The camera becomes a medium for giving attention rather than a tool for taking. Images are not captured but received—created with a reverence for nature’s cathedral.

Have you thought about who will be the first to experience the pain from Global Warming? Creatures living in the ocean are especially sensitive to small increases in ocean temperature.

The main objective of my photo essay is to project the impact, the positive and psychological effects of colors in our lives through my own sample photos.

This past winter went above and beyond the definition of harsh, with bitter cold and snow making it down right dangerous to get out to take pictures! The unrelenting long range weather forecasts began to pull on the fringes of my sanity!

I then remembered a photography technique involving shooting oil droplets floating on water. It was widely used in the late 60's as psychedelic rock bands such as Pink Floyd and Jefferson Airplane used "liquid light shows" made by projecting the swirling patterns of colored dyes mixed with oil and water onto backdrops during their live stage concerts. The technique resurfaced during the pandemic as homebound photographers were looking for creative outlets and things to photograph.

As you will see, the creative possibilities of this simple art form are limitless with every new attempt rendering mesmerizing and almost psychedelic results! I was inspired, my sanity restored, and frostbite averted!

Maple syrup is a natural sweetener made from concentrated maple tree sap. It is rich in minerals like manganese, zinc, potassium, and antioxidants. It is graded by color and flavor from lighter, milder syrups to darker, more robust ones. It can be used as a topping for pancakes and waffles, in baking, and as a glaze.

Several years ago, I took a maple photography class, and my eyes opened up to the fascinating world of maple syrup and its production. We are so lucky to live in Northeastern North America, where the climate is suitable for its production. It needs mild daytime temperatures and freezing nights for the sap to flow. Maple syrup was first made by the Indigenous people of Northeastern North America, and then adapted by European settlers. I can go on and on for hours talking about maple syrup, but I wanted to make this photo essay to encourage you to go out on Maple Syrup Weekends, held every March, to learn more for yourself. Western New York has a lot of maple farms, and my photo essay highlights some of the sights I saw when I visited some of them. Enjoy and Bon Áppetite.

Abstract Images are virtually everywhere. They can be found in nature or man-made objects and structures. Also, they can be created photographically by using various types of software in post processing. The purpose of this essay is to stimulate visual excitement in the viewer. You will be seeing photos taken and made from flowers, trees, paper and metal, just to name a few.

Join me on safari, where we will have the rare opportunity to view a pack of African Wild Dogs. Also called the painted dog, there are less than 7,000 remaining in the wild. To monitor their progress and range, you may notice one with a radio collar, placed by the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust. Also featured is an antelope herd, called the Lechwe, and a wake of critically endangered White-backed Vultures. Photos were taken from a Jeep by hand-holding a 6 lb. combination of Nikon DSLR and a Tamron 150-600mm lens.

The silent language and the power played by EMOTION in photographic images.

In the world of photography, emotion is the invisible force that injects life into a mere snapshot, lifting photographs beyond the mechanics of exposure, contrast and tonal range. It transforms visual images into expressive artistry. The technical dimension of the photograph constructs the skeletal frame upon which the image plants its feet on the ground. But, devoid of feeling, a photograph is simply a body without a pulse, standing yet a weak and lifeless structure. Without it, even the most stunning images risk falling flat and forgettable. While with it, even the most ordinary scenes unfold layers of unexpected richness, meaning and human connection. Emotion often acts as a mute storyteller. It weaves itself subtly into the frame, infusing each captured moment with a sense of depth, shifting moods, the echo of a life once lived....a haunting souvenir of the passing moment in time.