an Introduction to the work

“My work is to be open enough for the creative dance to flow through me. It is only in the dance that one becomes fully awake with all the senses alert.  As I create my dance, so too will I be re-created."  –  Nancy Rotenburg

My camera has become my “artistic brush” and it is one of my joys to explore and capture the auspicious beauty of flowers in the natural world. Time and again my practice of photography provides an opportunity to combine my passion for creative expression and my longing for the discovery of self.  I am in awe of the emotional connection I feel to these amazing forms and their ethereal nature. No matter how many images I make, I can never seem to get enough or get in close enough!  

This incessant fascination for flowers grew from watching my female elders express their love for the beauty they grew in their own gardens. It was my inheritance but it wasn’t until I unexpectedly picked up a camera and started photographing flowers while on a vacation that I realized how life changing it could be. I challenged myself to slow down to the natural rhythm of nature and allow time to really “see” beyond their form, into these simple yet magnificent creations. Little did I know such passion and purpose would find me like this! 

I am not as interested in the technical aspects of the camera or skillfully and literally documenting the subject. It is my consistent awe for the sacred and ethereal quality of a  flower that captivates me and keeps me on a quest to seek my own brand of photography. This compelling pursuit to feel their divine presence and capture the light that shines through them is where I have discovered my own voice. I seek out the essence of what lies beyond the surface beauty of the flower, to remain open to the mystery and truly present to the Grace that wants to descend in this way.

If I can stay in my heart and step away from only focusing on the result, the image will arrive with the embodiment of that experience. It is a mirror reflection of my own state and at times I feel the power of my soul when I look at my images. The late photographer Nancy Rotenberg said, “It takes courage to view art as a verb…an unfolding process that directly emanates from the heart, rather than seeing art as a noun or the final product.” On this inner pilgrimage of yearning and surrender to the space of creativity, I am invited into a place of openness to deeply listen and connect to my intuition. Ultimately this shift offers me the opportunity to tap into forgotten resources and dance or write poetry with my camera. When I enter this flow of spirit, it spills over and infuses the rest of my life with a sense of awe and wonder. My photography has become a meditation that has refreshed and opened me to a deeper longing to know the true “Self”… the one that is inherent in everything. 

It is my wish that these images impart their own mystery to the viewer; that they provide a means for connection and renewed vision into these earthly forms.  May they open you to the rhythm of nature that will transport you to the stillness of your own inner-self. You are invited to view these images in your own light – taking your time…one flower and then another… may they provide a moment of revelation and insight that is meant for you. I am grateful that you share this journey with me in this way.