My new project - The Art of Zen Photography

My first show at the Fall Art Walk last week was a wonderful success! I sold several pieces and received so many nice compliments, everyone seemed very enthusiastic and impressed with my work, I am so happy!


Looking ahead, I am excited to announce my new project: The Art of Zen Photography.

Zen: A total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It is also a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without the distraction created by your own thoughts.

Inspired by John Daido Loori and Minor White, I plan to dedicate an entire year to the study of Zen principles and the creation of Zen photographic art. I am new to Zen, but it is my understanding that Zen artists attempt to comprehend the true nature of their subjects and then capture their essence. Zen is incredibly complex, yet astonishingly simple. Zen masters claim that enlightenment is possible for everyone. One need not seek to learn something new, just realize what is already present. We are all already enlightened, but that fact has been masked by illusion. A critical component of Zen is zazen - meditation. As described by John Daido Loori: "The bulk of whatever you do in Zen you will do it yourself. It's about the wisdom that has no teacher, the wisdom that you were born with, that's inherent. It's a process of discovery. Zazen is the medium through which that discovery is going to happen. It could be the most important thing you do in your life, the direct experience of yourself beyond the conditioning."
I am looking forward to learning more and using this philosophy to photograph the flawless beauty of our natural world. I plan to present Part I of this project at the 2015 Spring Art Walk and Part II at the Fall Art Walk.

"At first glance a photograph can inform us. At second glance it can reach us."
- Minor White