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 →
Meditation Before the Arrival of Autumn
Now, I believe in life, and I believe in the joy of human existence, but these things cannot be experienced except as we also face the despair, also face the anxiety that every human being has to face if he lives with any creativity at all. —Rollo May Cyril Connolly wrote, “The creative moment of... 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 →
Note to Self on the Matter of Hope
So many people are busy worrying about the future of art or society, they have no time to preserve what is. Utopia is in the moment. Not in some future time, some other place, but in the here and now, or else it is nowhere. —Alfred Stieglitz From my camp on the edge of a... 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 →
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 →
Another Afternoon Not Wasted
Please consider joining my Author Talk (moderated by friend and publisher, Colleen Miniuk) on Sunday, March 27. The talk will include a reading from my book, Another Day Not Wasted, as well as time for audience questions. Click the banner below to register From the event description on Zoom: As a solider, a teacher, and a... 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 →