Locked

“The wide world is all about you; you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

Sometimes the most simple photograph can express so much, like this picture of a locked fence. Unaware of where it is located, what it locks in and whom it is intended to keep out, the viewer must form his/her own assumptions.

What does it protect? Who or what is locked in or closed out? Thinking about these questions inevitably leads to the questions on the larger scale....Who has the right to lock others out or in? Who has the right to decide what is kept from others? The government? Individuals?

At the risk of saying too much about my photograph, I was thinking about immigration issues when I took this shot; I thought it an apt metaphor for the ability of a state or country to close its doors and keep people out, and conversely, to keep its citizens "safe" inside.

Regardless of your stance on immigration laws, or even the ability of individuals to put up their own fences (literally and symbolically), I hope this photograph brings a lot of these important questions to mind and can help spark discourse about the concept of "putting up a fence to keep me out, or to keep mother nature in" (to quote from Five Man Electrical Band's "Signs").

Homeless Guy on a Bench- Downtown Brooklyn

To be shelterless and alone in the open country, hearing the wind moan and watching for day through the whole long weary night; to listen to the falling rain, and crouch for warmth beneath the lee of some old barn or rick, or in the hollow of a tree; are dismal things—but not so dismal as the wandering up and down where shelter is, and beds and sleepers are by thousands; a houseless rejected creature. - Charles Dickens

I have seen this man many times in downtown Brooklyn. Most of the time, he is yelling words only he can understand. He screams loudly, wanders in circles, and has an empty vacant look in his eyes, unbeknownst to those of us who have not had to endure a life -or even a night- on the streets. Those who come across this man usually turn away, cross to the other side of the street, or pick up their pace so as to avoid an encounter. While he may indeed be dangerous or mentally ill, on this particular day, he seemed so peaceful bathed in sunlight while napping on a public bench. I desperately wanted to capture this image of him as a passive, calm, individual...to present him in a light in which we would not think of him as scary or crazy, and which is so different from the man I see on the street when he is awake.

I can not begin to imagine the life this man has had to endure and I pray for him and others in his situation, without shelter. My hope is that by capturing his image in this way, the viewer is able to perceive him in a different light, as someone worth helping, or talking to, as opposed to someone we run away from.

Thought of the Day

"In rare moments of deep play, we can lay aside our sense of self, shed time's continuum, ignore pain, and sit quietly in the absolute present, watching the world's ordinary miracles. No mind or heart hobbles. No analyzing or explaining. No questing for logic. No promises. No goals. No relationships. No worry. One is completely open to whatever drama may unfold." --Diane Ackerman

Thanks to my favorite yoga instructor, Suzanne, for passing this one along! :)

Bedford Temple Door

"Every wall is a door" -Ralph Walso Emerson

"Sometimes we stare too long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open." - Alexander Graham Bell

I LOVE doors; I could probably do an entire collection of photographs consisting only of doors! This door is outside the gates of a magnificent temple in Bedford, NY called Shaaray Tefila.

I am intrigued by the symbolism of the door, how it projects a narrow view of the world, much like a camera lens; you simply can not see everything. I see doorways as portals of opportunity, as hope. I see them as the passing of one stage to another, whether from darkness to light, from one plane to another, from consciousness to subconsciousness, etc., I regard them as a transformation of sorts. In addition, I think of doors as the place to leave something behind, when one passes through- whether its one's fears, inhibitions, or prejudices.

Regardless if I'm photographing an image of a door to a house, a building, a garden, etc., my goal is for the viewer to think about the door as a symbol and not only wonder what's behind it, but to think about the doorways and pathways they pass through and those they avoid in their own lives.

Ghost Graves in NYC

When walking by this old cemetary adjacent to the World Trade Center, I was struck by how these tombstones appeared like the cartoonish white-sheeted image we have of ghosts. The lighting was eerie and I thought this shot evoked a spooky yet peaceful feeling. While graveyards always frightened me, I'm finding through photography that there can be beatuy and indeed tranquility in these final resting places.

Thought of the Day

"Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still. " -Dorothea Lange, American Documentary Photographer, 1895-1965

Bordeaux Tram

This is one of my all-time favorite shots because it just "happened," there was nothing planned, no intention. We were simply strolling down the street in Bordeaux, France when I heard a sudden rush of wind behind me; I quickly turned and snapped this picture. I confess, I can't believe I got the shot, movement and all. Alas, seeing the image at this size does not do it justice. Once enlarged to at least 8 x 10 one can see the commuters on the tram, extremely still, almost frozen in space and time, while the tram moves so fast carrying them to their destinations. Its a much different experience seeing this photo blown up. Albeit, in this size, one can still glean the contrast between the old and new; the buldings in the background are historic and the perfect foil for the modern tram (which runs without wires utilizing underground electricity- ingenious!).

Sometimes in life, we have to "let go" and just let things happen. While I concede that it is quite hard to go through life without setting plans and having intentions, if possible for a few brief moments, we should all try to allow ourselves to just be and let things flow the way they will. I have found, as evinced from this photo above, that if I can let go and just snap a picture without trying so hard to capture something in a certain way, I may be pleasantly surprised by the results!