CBG Afterglow

Photo by Karen Krugman

I've made a lot of changes to my macro program at Cleveland Botanical Garden. This weekend was the third time I've led a program in conjunction with Orchid Mania. I think overall the participants have always ended the weekend feeling that they've learned a lot, but I have always felt that the structure of the program didn't allow me to get enough across. This time, however, I left CBG feeling that the program resulted in a big step up in the participants' work. I was really happy to see how many nice images were shown during the final critique. I was even happier to see how much exploration was happening, with everyone working hard to dig deeper and deeper into their subjects, trying to get their defining image.

If this weekend was any indication, this is going to be a great workshop year for me...

Rites of Spring

Things are starting to look different to me. Yeah, it snowed yesterday, but things just looked different. Sun angle, I guess. Regardless, this time of year certain things take place that make Spring start to seem inevitable. When I start to get that feeling, there are things I do as well, so I can play along. Once I see the March sun, I start thinking camping. Hard to believe, but only six weeks 'til my start of the season camping trip to Allegheny National Forest! To get in the mood, a trip to Gander Mountain is required. Just a half-hour or so walking around looking at stuff, thinking about campfires and fishing and stars and hikes and on and on. (Yeah, I think about photographing, as well) I don't really need much in the way of camping gear anymore, but looking at the stuff gets me fired up to get outdoors. It won't be long now...

Another sure sign of spring is the annual Orchid Mania at Cleveland Botanical Garden. Again this year I'm lucky enough to be taking part, by leading a macro workshop at the Garden. I'll be working with some new friends this Saturday and Sunday, showing tips and tricks to getting creative with flowers. I'm excited that we'll have some private time in the Glass House this year, before the Garden opens to the public.

Camping gear shopping and Orchid Mania: Two sure signs of Spring!

Apparition

I dream the shape of your words,
hair crashing down as the waterfall.

Your surprise an expanse of fireworks
always ending in a smile.

The sound of your winter
always brings you back.

As alive as a memory can be,
almost to touch you.

Just you...

Reflections On Opening Night

It certainly was fun showing my first new exhibit in over four years, at home, finally. The turnout was quite large for an exhibit of this type, in a community center as opposed to a gallery or art center.

Many of the people who I can count on to come to my exhibits in Ohio were surprised to see that I haven't even been doing the kind of work that they know me for. It was nice that my current approach was accepted so graciously by everyone I was able to spend time with, the opening being so busy.

I notice a common theme wherever I've shown this work. People are far more engaged than they were with my more traditional nature work, asking lots of questions, commenting on subtle details, and so forth. There is very obviously a direct connection being made with the new pieces, which I find personally satisfying and also enlightening. I am learning things about my own work, from others.

Most comical exchange from last night: A guy raved about how he'd never really liked anything heavily Photoshopped, that it usually looks overdone to him, but that I had become so good at it that my work is on a level all its own. (Something like that.) He was so sincere that I didn't have the heart to tell him that all the images were created in-camera, Photoshop being used basically just to do minor corrections and the printing. I'm still laughing inside. It's amazing the assumptions people make.

Looking forward to my next Ohio show. Don't ask me where. Now I've got to find a place...

My Latest Work Coming To Ohio

I'm bringing my new exhibit, Natural Resonance, to Ohio for the first time. This is my first exhibit of new work in four years! (You may recall that I lost all of my previous exhibit prints in a flood several years ago.) I'll be showing at Willoughby Hills Comunity Center, along with painter David Shimmerer, from January 7 thru January 31, 2011.

There will a public reception on Friday, January 7 from 7-9 PM. Please try and come out. I'm really excited about this new show!

For more details contact John Davis at borrowedtime1999@aol.com.

Cleveland Botanical Garden Fall Workshop

Leaf drop at CBG

It's always a pleasure to teach at Cleveland Botanical Garden. This fall was no exception as colors the weekend of my workshop were peaking. I had a great group, very eager to try new things. And this year it wasn't raining. That's a first!

Afterwards I was able to take a special friend, who had never visited Cleveland, on a tour of the place. I was very proud as everything about CBG looked perfect on that day.

If you've never been to CBG you should really check into it. This is the type of place that many cities just don't have. Another jewel in Cleveland's crown.

An Awesome Retreat Experience

Some tamaracks near Raquette Lake

Words don't adequately express the depth of experience I felt during this past week's Nature of Possibility retreat. Afterward Mark Bowie and I were both exhausted by the hard work but so positively energized. I can say without exaggeration that we've never had a better group to work with at any of the API events. Everyone was so talented, open-minded and willing to share. This was one of those times that makes me so proud of what the Institute has accomplished, and excited to see just how far we can go.

The best part was that Mark and I were participants, instead of just leaders and instructors as we are in the standard workshops. It was really fun to be out there every morning shooting with everyone, and making prints in the afternoon to hang on our Wall of Expression.



The retreat gang and our Wall of Expression








This has turned out to be a transitional year for me. I really didn't do a lot of shooting in the Adirondacks this summer/fall. At least not as much as I usually do. It's been all about waiting patiently for my next move to make itself apparent, but there's no better place to do that than up here.

I wrote this piece as my final essay of the retreat. The retreat was ending. The leaves are falling. Everything is in transition. I am in transition. Cycles end and will begin again.

Beauty at the End

The largest tree cries tiny raindrops
While the loon lays bare its despair on the darkness.
The wind moans of regret in the ancient tongue
Of a long forgotten land.

Ours is a shared loneliness
Staggering in its depth
As the wellspring.

I know you.
I don’t know me
Although there are clues I guess.
And while yours shines indifferently
Mine remains alone and locked away.

Life rains down.
There is memory in the song.
The howl washes all away.