The Standard of Taste

To look at a work of art in order to see how well certain rules are observed and canons conformed to impoverishes perception. But to strive to note the ways in which certain conditions are fulfilled, such as the organic means by which the media is made to express and carry definite parts, or how... Continue Reading →

Experience First

Dear reader, I can use your help. I have never been a good promoter of my work, but I've always believed that by making the highest quality of photographs and writings I can, I could (can) count on sufficient sales to make ends meet. Becoming a celebrity has never been my goal and is not... Continue Reading →

Deep Work

Contrary to what we usually believe, moments like these, the best moments in our lives, are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times—although such experiences can also be enjoyable, if we have worked hard to attain them. The best moments usually occur when a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary... Continue Reading →

On Artistic Usefulness

A happy life must be one in which there is activity. If it is also to be a useful life, the activity ought to be as far as possible creative . . . But creative activity requires imagination and originality, which are apt to be subversive of the status quo. —Bertrand Russell In scientific literature,... Continue Reading →

Forgetting the Roses

It is unfortunate, to say the least, that the tremendous capacity photography has for revealing new things in new ways should be overlooked or ignored by the majority of its exponents—but such is the case. —Edward Weston Henri Matisse, known for his expressive use of color, was one of the most creative and prolific artists... Continue Reading →

Future Hindsight

This article is reproduced from my book, Another Day Not Wasted. I am not fond of "teasers," and suspect my readers are not, either, which is why I am offering the article here in its entirety. For a limited time, I am offering autographed copies of the book (shipped to US addresses only) at a... Continue Reading →

Perspectives

Art is only a means to life, to the life more abundant. It is not in itself the life more abundant. It merely points the way, something which is overlooked not only by the public, but very often by the artist himself. In becoming an end it defeats itself. —Henry Miller A new calendar year... Continue Reading →

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