‘Look beneath your feet.’ ~ Zen Buddhist proverb

I have long been interested in Eastern philosophy, especially its idea of the ‘beauty of the blank space’. I love the Zen Buddhist question, ‘what is right before your eyes?’ Such deceptively simple curiosity cuts right to the essence of art, not least photography! I am drawn to a sense of mystery, unity and tranquillity alongside the Japanese concept of ‘ma’ (negative space) to explore absence among form as an integral part of the subject. I take a notepad with the intention of complementing each picture of various scenes, sketched through the written word while taking long walks laying the basis for a haiku or poem, which sort of mirrors the technique of shooting an image in RAW before post-processing. I aim for balanced and contrasting images – a sort of yin-yang effect, considering the relationship between colour and musical keys and the pause between sound: shadows represent low notes, brown, blue and green – mid-range, while red, white and yellow are the melody; the poem or haiku forming lyrics to complete the ensemble.

Bridford Wood

shadows cast over
leaves and twigs on woodland path –
the afternoon sun