Artist Statement
Active listening. I think that best describes my current approach to photography. Active listeners, “Need only [to] restate – in their own language – their impression of the expression of the sender” (1).
Whether it’s a 12-mile backpack trip to a remote wilderness area or the constant action of moving around a cyclocross course during a race, I believe movement can play an important role in positioning to ‘listen’ for a photograph. During the act of movement, I strive to be led by intuition.
Intuition is the primary internal tool that helps me see the subjects I capture in a photograph. Once seen, the ‘listening’ begins in order to obtain my ‘impression’ of the ‘expression’ the subject is emanating in that moment. What lines attract my attention? How can the light interact to gain a better expression? Can I distill the expression to a simpler form? These are perhaps a few questions I might ask instantly while interacting with a subject.
If all the above coalesces to produce a memorable photograph, then I believe it is my duty as an artist to share it with the World.
(1) Gordon, Thomas (1977). Leader Effectiveness Training. New York: Wyden books. p. 57. ISBN 0-399-12888-3. Thomas Gordon is one of a few people to have coined the term “Active Listening”.