Altered States

Sunflower, 2010

I have mentioned and written about the cameras' unique ability to describe details of life around us, which is like no other medium available. It's vital as an artist to break rules in order to come up with surprising and unexpected results. Pushing other inherent abilities of the camera as well as the digital processing of images is a great stepping off point into the unknown.

I find, as an artist, it is required that I leave behind judgment and pre-determined biases while working. Shoshin is a word from Zen Buddhism meaning "beginner's mind." It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when working at an advanced level, but just as a beginner would. Working in this mindset is critical as the Zen monk, Shunryū Suzuki wrote about in his book 'Zen Mind, Beginners Mind'.

I find the very basics of successful art and image-making are unique and specific to my direct experience of being in the world. My approach is inherent to exploration and discovery with the foundations of art defined by form, design, perspective, juxtaposition, color, visual directions, as well as ambiguity and suggestion of content. Many times the question a photograph or artist raises is more intrigueing than the obvious answer it might reveal.