black and white photography

Nighttime in the forest…

brendakofford_goatsbeardIIweb

Nighttime in the forest is not like nighttime in the city or on a farm. At night, the sacred forest declares its absolute authority. The curtain of darkness is thick and secretive. …I heard many eerie cries coming from the forest. By eight o’clock it was already night, and the forest’s dominance was restored. The whole universe sank into a profound silence that, at the same time, vibrated with life. I could almost hear the majestic steps of the mountain god as he leaped between the towering trees. 

On full moon nights, none of us could sleep. One time, I was up late writing… When the moon and forest were together they created a profoundly marvelous and mysterious atmosphere, unlike any we had experienced before. The silence was total, yet, we could hear moon and forest speaking to each other. They were no longer two, but had become one. If you took away the moon, the forest would cease to be. If you took away the forest, the moon would not be. We wouldn’t be standing by the moonlit window if moon and forest ceased to be. 

~Thich Nhat Hanh (Fragrant Palm Leaves, pg. 22)

a mental image

One of the interesting things about photography is the fact that it’s record of ourselves and our works so often do not correspond to our mental image…  Generally we assume that the difference between our expectation and the camera’s evidence is the result of some kind of photographic aberration.

~Henri Cartier Bresson

citypark2

Nikon D750   f/5.6   1/160s   170 mm   ISO 100

truth & strength…together

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…we were determined to speak the truth. Now I understand that truth and virtue must be joined by strength. When I first read the French author La Fontaine many years ago, I was disturbed by this statement: ‘The argument of the strongest party is always the best.’ …life has taught me more than once that his statement is at least partly true. Truth without strength cannot stand firm. Strength does not have to mean tyranny or violence, but one must be strong. Without strength, how could those with no more than a pen challenge powerful authorities? 

~Thich Nhat Hanh (Fragrant Palm Leaves)

 

 

flipped through

The pictures produced [in the 1950’s] were especially useful to the magazines, which were meant to be flipped through rather than lived with, and in which a picture’s first impact was seen as more important than its staying power.

Cited: J Szarkowski, Looking at Photographs, p. 180

shadowsweb

Nikon D750   f/8   1/160 s   300 mm   100 ISO

 

seven day photo challenge: day 7

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The rules to the Seven Day Photo Challenge challenge are, “…is one black and white photo from your own life each day for seven days. No people depicted, no words of explanation. Invite one other person to join each day.”

Since I’m uncomfortable with the process of inviting others to join, I will extend the invitation from Emilio to those who let me know they would like to join.

seven day photo challenge: day 4

bnw7day4web

The rules to the Seven Day Photo Challenge challenge is:  “…is one black and white photo from your own life each day for seven days. No people depicted, no words of explanation. Invite one other person to join each day.”

Since I’m uncomfortable with the process of inviting others to join, I will extend the invitation from Emilio to those who let me know they would like to join.