Larger than Life

Bedford, New Hampshire- June 2019

My good friend Tommy Arnold passed away in June at a time when he should have been planning his retirement. He fought a courageous and positive battle against pancreatic cancer and never gave up hope. In the end, the nasty disease took him from this world way too early.

I took this photograph in Bedford, New Hampshire on the trip back from his memorial service. The light was gray, flat and ominous, the type of illumination not good for photography or one’s spirit.

While I was very sad, this scene made me smile and think of Tom. I had to capture an image as a tribute to him and a reflection of my thoughts. You see, like Paul Bunyan, Tom was larger than life. Perhaps, we all are.

I knew Tom for 30 years. He was a unique individual and quite the character. We worked together at IBM and at one point, I was his manager for a few years. We formed a friendship and bond that withstood the test of time. He always made me laugh. Tom had very direct opinions on things and needed no provocation to share them with you. He was the salt of the earth, genuine and a good guy.

As well as you think that you know someone, you really learn more about them from the eulogies, especially when they are delivered by their children. Tom’s sons did a terrific job memorializing their dad and reinforced all my understanding of what made Tom unique. He was frugal beyond comparison, quite resourceful and unusually innovative at solving problems around his home and yard. He was quirky, different and definitely “old school”. In Tom’s book, landscaping wasn’t yard work, it was a strategic engineering project that required expert project management- something that he excelled at.

As Tom’s service ended, I realized how much of an impact he had on others in his own way. He was never famous, rich or some big civic or business leader. But he left his mark on me and many others for who he was in his own right. How much friendship and love you deliver is how you will be remembered. Tom was larger than life to those who knew him. Perhaps all of us can be, if we put our life purpose on what really matters.

Tom loved working the land around his home in New Hampshire and I think that he could relate to this scene. I miss you my friend. Peace be with you.

Symbolism in Photography

Good photography, like other art forms, should make the viewer stop, think and reflect on what the photographer is attempting to communicate. Visual symbolism, metaphors and the placement of subject matter in relationship to other elements in a scene are intended to convey a message, feeling or meaning from the photographer’s perspective.

However, one should not over analyze photographs to derive meaning or the photographer’s intent. David Plowden, Ansel Adams and Edward Weston were often perplexed by critics analyzing their work to find a message there that had never even crossed the photographer’s mind. Sometimes, the beauty of a photograph is simply the artistic impression of the photograph itself… nothing else and nothing more.

This recent photograph, “Wandering Man” was taken in January of this year with a Fuji x30 camera in Woodstock, NY. Woodstock, NY is a interesting place to photograph and this particular camera is an amazing tool for documentary photographers.

As I made this image, there were many thoughts and feelings that came through. I know what this photograph means to me and how some of the symbols and visual elements represents iconic metaphors in life and our journey through it. What is important is what it means to you, the viewer.

Please share your thoughts and comments. After all, a photographer’s success with a particular image is function of the viewer experiencing the same feeling and vision as the photographer did when the exposure was made. Continue reading →

Sunoco Depot- PA Route 11

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Sunoco Depot- PA Route 11

Happy New Year 2015.

Today I have started my own Blog titled, “Reflections on Photography, Life and Values”. I intend to share my personal photographic work and offer observations about what influenced a particular image or meaning in it that is reflective of what I have observed in life or of values that are worthy of ascribing to and aspiring to live by. This blog is the culmination of over forty years of photographic work and represents an opportunity to personally grow by sharing my perspective beyond the corporate world that I make my living from.

This image is of a Sunoco fuel terminal that I photographed this past year as I was returning from my son’s college track meet. The lesson for me in this image is twofold:

– There is beauty in the world in the commonplace and in the unexpected if you train your mind and eye to be observant and appreciative of the world beyond your inner realm.

– Success in photography or in in life for that matter is a factor of determination and patience.

Over the past two and half years, I have driven by this scene a dozen times and knew there was photographic potential. However, the lighting had never properly illuminated the industrial landscape in a manner that render the monochromatic tonal range, luminance or details that I knew existed. My patience paid off and my timing was excellent as I was able to render the image that I sought on that particular day.

How often as an American society, do we have a predefined concept of beauty or landscape that is dismissive of common man made structures, commerce or industry as being potential elements in a scene that can be admired or contemplated as noteworthy? Become observant of the world around you and you will find beauty in the sublime if spend the time to think and use your imagination as those who created the environment did.

Until next time …

ELL II