Artist Statement

Fall in Colorado calls to photographers from all over the world. But when the cooler weather moves in, the photographers and colorful leaves are blown away with the wind and cameras are put away. That’s it, folks. The show’s over. There’s nothing left to see here. It’s the “off-season.” There are only whispers of the footsteps. Where I once stood next to many now a solo venture. The beauty of fall has faded yet, still so much beauty remains – small, plants in the transition between Fall and Winter present an artistic challenge yet an endless playground of photographic creativity. Showcasing the inherent beauty is the key element that brings like to what many might consider "ugly" or unimportant. These are lovely dead and dormant things.

The photography project, Lovely Dead and Dormant Things, features small details that subvert the typical emphasis on grand, wide-angle scenes and highlights the overlooked and the often-dismissed echoes a broader theme. This collection offers a new perspective on what nature's beauty can be and forces us to pay attention to the subtleties of the world around us. There are lime green lace lichen clinging to the frames of leafless trees, fields of golden remnants littered beneath the forests, and pods of oddly shaped grasses and plants that glisten in the morning dew and frost.

Employing techniques like selective focus, depth of field, and bokeh draws the viewer’s eye to specific details and effectively isolates the subject from the background, creating a soft, almost meditative atmosphere that showcases the plant life. The interplay between sharp and soft focus emphasizes the complexity and layers of the plant life. The varying tones of light at different times of the day, not only enhance the mood but also highlight the textures and subtleties of the subjects that brings emphasis to the contrast between life and dormancy, adding an almost poetic sense of transience to the images.

The final image presentation is an important element in reinforcing the conceptual nature of the work. Each image is presented in a 1:1 ratio. The square format, often associated with classic photography, gives the images a sense of timelessness and help elevate the beauty in their stillness. This presentation, with its delicate yet modern touch, elevates the sense of intimacy and contemplation each viewer will experience. This project is not just a photographic exploration; it's a call for mindfulness and a deeper appreciation of the world around us.