But perhaps the great work of art has less importance in itself than in the ordeal it demands of a man and the opportunity it provides him of overcoming his phantoms and approaching a little closer to his naked reality. —Albert Camus Note: This article contains passages borrowed from various sections of the manuscript-in-progress for... Continue Reading →
Ponderosa Elegy
To be happy in this world, especially when youth is past, it is necessary to feel oneself not merely an isolated individual whose day will soon be over, but part of the stream of life flowing on from the first germ to the remote and unknown future. —Bertrand Russell Based on some readers’ responses to... Continue Reading →
Not That Kind
The idea of an art detached from its creator is not only outmoded; it is false. —Albert Camus In recent weeks, I was asked by two different people for advice on how to become a professional landscape photographer. One was an ambitious and precocious young teenager who, at age 13, had already decided that this... Continue Reading →
A Living Legacy
I could have done lots more, put in much more work and developed more pictures, but I had also a desire to say what I felt about life. —Consuelo Kanaga I’ve had several conversations recently about the topic of legacy. In hindsight, I realized, this has been one of the most consistent topics of conversation... Continue Reading →
Bracing for Impact
Dear readers, before continuing on to this month's article, please take a moment to consider these updates: I now offer on my website electronic versions of all my current books (including the out-of-print Photoshop book). For various reasons, I've had to scale back my public activities (including some writing assignments and public talks). Among other... Continue Reading →
Winter Camp Soliloquy
Dear reader, if you have read any of my books, please take a moment to rate and review them on Amazon. (Amazon will let you do so even if you purchased the book elsewhere.) There is only one inborn error, and that is the notion that we exist in order to be happy. —Arthur Schopenhauer... Continue Reading →
Projects or Singles? Ask Pythia!
This article brought to you—in full and free of advertising—by the generosity of my Patreon supporters. Please consider becoming one. Away with ideals. Let each individual act spontaneously from the forever incalculable prompting of the creative wellhead within him. There is no universal law. —D.H. Lawrence Working in projects is, without a doubt, a better, more artistic,... Continue Reading →
Art and Science
The fine arts and the hard sciences have more in common than most people believe, because both are driven by dopamine. The poet composing lines about a hopeless lover is not so different from the physicist scribbling formulas about excited electrons. They both require the ability to look beyond the world of the senses into... Continue Reading →
On Motivation, Creativity, and Personal Expression
Whatever you do to satisfy yourself will fulfill those in the world who are like you. What takes form within you will be felt outside of yourself. But if you try to satisfy someone else, you will serve neither that person nor yourself. Thus you will never know any peace. —Alfred Stieglitz Almost every time... Continue Reading →
Nature Photography Classes – Speaker Series
It is my great pleasure to join some of my talented colleagues and friends as a speakers in Nature Photography Classes' Fall Speaker Series, hosted by Nic Stover. I've had the opportunity to meet Nic in Death Valley last year and was impressed with his vision for the series. For a low price ($10 per speaker)... Continue Reading →