Opportunity, Luray, Virginia

Found deep in the archives, an artist statement for an old photography project from 2006:

We are what we do. My fundamental belief is that we are defined by how we choose to spend our time, by what we think about, by what we do on a daily basis. Every moment matters in a small way, and thus thoughtful, conscious living is how we can connect our daily lives with our dreams and make the two whole.

I love to explore these daily moments, the memorable and unnoticed slices of our lives. My observations bring thoughtfulness to the reality of our activities, inviting questions rather than delivering answers, and inciting the deliberations and attention that we repress in our daily rote. Reproducing reality can be powerful photography, but the mark of truly meaningful work is when the static image creates a dynamic state of contemplation and thought.

My most powerful work tends to be images of loneliness. Loneliness does not require the absence of people; in fact, failing to connect with the abundance of people and life in one’s surrounding world creates a far stronger sensation of loneliness. These moments of disconnect in our lives can be tremendously powerful for exploring our true selves if we open our minds to questioning our choices.

Wow. Waylaid eloquence. Forgotten melancholy. Bland, distasteful, far-from-yummy memories. The shock of seeing one’s past thoughts and state of mind, the comparisons to current day, and the recognition of slivers of continued truths. The relief that while the exploration continues, it’s with a different lens in a new home. Great reflections for a sleepless 5 am.