Dear Reader,
There’s a beautiful story about photographer Harry Callahan‘s deep and abiding love for his wife, Eleanor, who died in February of 2012. Harry made portraits and photographs almost daily of Eleanor – his beloved subject – over the course of 50 years. After Eleanor’s death, a friend of Harry’s was quoted:
“She was an additional f-stop on his lens. Through her, he saw form and structure more clearly, both in nature and in the world.”
To me, the “additional f-stop" is a metaphor for how I cultivate my own awareness to create. It's pure, remarkable magic and why I dedicate a space on Substack to elaborate more about the intersection of awareness and art via photos and essays. I invite you to connect with me there.
In 2008 I left the world of creative freelance and joined the full-time work force again because I didn't want my creative process to suffer due to money or fear of where I would get my next gig. I wanted to protect the love I have for art and let it run free, with my only obstacle being time. I have to say, it was a good choice. I hope in some small way, my work here inspires you towards a path of awareness, your own "additional f-stop".
“Every human has four endowments – self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom… The power to choose, to respond, to change.”
- Stephen Covey