I wish to explore why an image resonates, with me at least.

Sam Abell, a former National Geographic photographer once said, “My best work is often almost unconscious and occurs ahead of my ability to understand it.” I think this notion is true among many photographers, including myself. We encounter a scene that communicates “something” to us and we set out to discover and record it. We work it from many angles—wide, narrow, high, and low. Sometimes we experience an elevated sensation when we press the shutter release. We don’t know why. It simply feels right, as if we have discovered the essence of what we were shooting. Often when we look at the image, whether on the screen or in print, we can’t articulate why the image resonates, it simply does.

The purpose of this blog is to look at photographs and paintings, mine and others, to explore and possibly discover why a particular work resonates. As mentioned in my about page, I’m curious as to why art affects someone, politically, emotionally, etc. I recognize I am dealing with the complexities of aesthetics, perception, psychology, sociology, culture, and subjectivity here, but I think it will be worth the effort.

Sometimes years will pass before I have insight as to why an image works. Often I discover new perspectives through dialogue with viewers when my images are at art shows and galleries.

And as always, you will be reading my point of view. I encourage you to comment, especially if you have an alternate view, or simply wish to add to the discussion.

Many thanks for participating in this effort.

~ John