There’s not much to say aboutWhite Water Lily, other than that we have a pond in our backyard filled to the brim with water lilies. In winter they are a sad, limp, discolored array. But in summer the leaves spread and curl up to the sky and the vibrant white and yellow blossoms open to the sun by day, closing tightly again into buds for the night. Resident frogs fill the evenings with discordant croaking, and from their sunbathing vantage points quickly plop into the water to shelter beneath the blanket of lily pads when startled.
I spent a couple of hours early one morning photographing the blooms from every conceivable angle. On review, this image rose to the forefront for the simplicity of the composition, the strong, bold shapes created by light and shadow, and the translucence of the backlit petals.
White Water Lily was introduced to the public in New York City in an exhibit mounted by Agora Gallery, a contemporary art gallery in New York’s Chelsea art district. Prints are available for purchase HERE.
Nikon D4, 1/350 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 260 mm (200.0-400.00 mm f/4.0 lens). Handheld.
Photo is copyrighted and registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Please respect.
True to the adage that one seldom explores one’s own backyard, I have lived in Arizona since 1958 and never once visited spectacular Monument Valley on the Arizona/Utah border. In 2012 that changed when I joined a photo workshop with like-minded photographers, and spent a week touring the highlights of this unique and beautiful area. On arrival we were hit with the frustrating realization that we were hard on the heels of massive dust storm that obliterated light and turned the sky yellow with blowing sand.
Not only did this compromise the scenery we hoped to photograph, it created a challenge for the camera gear which is easily damaged by the invasive grit. Changing lenses in the field was a recipe for disaster; the best solution was to carry two cameras each configured for different shooting scenarios.
A few days later the dust settled, the sky turned blue, and we discovered that the dunes had been swept clean into freshly rippled contours, a silver lining after all. Meanwhile I captured this image of a Navajo pony on the rez, haircoat embedded with red desert sand and eyes squinted against the blowing grit. I like his rough presence, bold shadow and the iconic landscape on the horizon.
Navajo Pony After A Dust Storm prints are available for purchase HERE
Nikon D3S, 1/750 sec at f/5.6, ISO 200, 44 mm (28.0-300.00 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens).
Photo is copyrighted and registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Please respect.
Sunrise Flight is a composite image created from two photographs captured in the Solomon Islands. We left our anchorage at dawn one morning to get an early start for a long day’s passage. The rising sun lit the cumulus clouds building up on the horizon, giving them an internal glow. I was concentrating on capturing images of the dramatic sky when a booby joined us briefly, winging his way parallel to the boat, his eye reflecting the early light. Two captures taken just moments apart – the empty cloudscape and the sunlit bird in flight – were meant for each other, so I married them in one image that captures the essence of the moment as I experienced it.
The vast expanse of sea and sky and the perfectly positioned wings of the bird together create an image that expresses the unfettered freedom of flight.
Sunrise Flight has been exhibited from coast to coast, including the San Diego Museum of Natural History and, most recently, PhotoPlace Gallery in Vermont, a contemporary photography venue. Prints of this award-winning image are available for purchase HERE
Nikon D4, 1/500 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100, 165 mm (70.0-200.00 mm f/2.8 lens)
Photo is copyrighted and registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Please respect.
We have the good fortune to live alongside Sabino Creek on Tucson’s eastside, a riparian area which as a result remains a wildlife corridor in an urban area. Bobcats, coyotes, javelina, jack rabbits, hawks, quail, roadrunners and more abound.
I spend a lot of time at the computer editing and refining my digital photographs. Truth be told, this is as much fun for me as the actual photography. One autumn morning my housekeeper interrupted my concentration to announce that there was a ‘gato muy grande’ in the backyard. I grabbed my handheld camera with a walk-around zoom lens already attached and tiptoed into the backyard to check him out.
This handsome bobcat, in full winter coat, was only about 10 feet away from the house but conveniently near his escape route into the riverbed. He gave me an intense look over his shoulder, I clicked twice, and he was gone.
It took some careful editing to bring this image to life, but it has become one of my favorites.
This is a ringside shot of Saer Coulter aboard Don VHP competing in the Grand Prix during the 2013 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California. Saer is a California girl in her early twenties, a successful grand prix competitor who has graduated to international competition. On the day I took this shot, it was windy with blowing dust. The sky had a grungy tinge and the ringside banners stood straight out flapping during the competition.
On a really windy day, the jumps start falling without any assistance from the horses, and the jump crew is kept busy sandbagging the standards and trying to keep the course intact so that the competition can take place. In this class, the challenging triple combination (a series of three jumps closely spaced) was positioned on the long side of the arena. The approach involved making a left turn after landing from a jump set at the far end. Making the turn correctly is critical to positioning the horse to give him the best chance of clearing all three obstacles.
I prefer the monotone finish, which in my mind enhances the strong graphical elements of the composition and emphasizes the details of horse, rider and tack.
Left to the Triple Combination, sepia is available for purchase HERE
Nikon D4, 1/1000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400, 280mm (200.0-400.0 mm f/4.0) lens.
Photo is copyrighted and registered with the US Copyright Office. Please respect.
Here’s one for the equestrian crowd! High Heels, sepiais a new addition to my online gallery and the first square format photo I’ve posted.
It’s fun to hang out at ringside with a big lens, trying to capture the action and excitement of Grand Prix Showjumping up close and personal. Here the horse is in a bit of trouble over a really big oxer. He’s making a herculean effort to keep from hitting the rail, while his rider hangs on for the ride, releasing the reins to give her mount more freedom to solve the problem.
I love how the rider and horse are both showing the soles of their shoes!
The total lunar eclipse of September 27, 2015, was a lazy photographer’s dream. For starters, totality was visible from my own home town of Tucson. No need to drive or fly to a distant destination to observe – bonus point #1. Bonus point #2 – not only was this a total eclipse of the moon, but it was a Super Moon as well! And best of all, here in Tucson, the eclipse took place during prime time! Totality commenced at 7:11 p.m. local time and ended at 8:24 p.m. No need to set alarm clocks – instead I was able to set up my tripod, camera and lens during the sunset hours while I could still read the settings on my camera without a flashlight.
Husband Mike came along with a bottle of wine and two glasses and set himself up on the nearby patio furniture, and when the time was right I just clicked away. The wispy clouds added some individual character to my shot, which otherwise was a scene photographed by the thousands (tens of thousands?) around the world.
Nikon D4 .5 sec at f/4.0, ISO 200, 400mm (200.0-400.0 mm f/4..0), tripod. Composite of two photos.
I checked my Facebook page this morning and found this post – I’m so excited that the 2014 Best of Nature Photography Show is now open at the San Diego Natural History Museum. You can read all about it by following the link – but the highlights are that nearly 1,000 entries were submitted to the show, from which 52 artists and 74 images were selected. Two of my images are included and after following the link to the website and paging through the other absolutely stunning entries, I am hugely flattered to be in such good company!
A special thanks to daughter Michelle who emailed me the entry details and encouraged me to enter. It would have slipped through the cracks without her not-so-subtle hint! And it’s great to know my family supports and believes in my work.
Husband Mike and I are driving to San Diego next week to attend the artist’s reception on Saturday, November 1 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. If you live in the neighborhood, we certainly hope you’ll join us! The event is on the Museum’s 4th floor in the Ordover Gallery, and admission to the reception is free. Of course the usual fees still apply to visit the Museum’s other attractions – one of which is the intriguing Discovery of King Tut exhibit that we don’t want to miss! And if you can’t make it this Saturday, the show will be on display until February 1, 2015.
Here are my two included images: Sunrise Flight was taken from AVATAR’s deck on an early morning passage in the Solomon Islands. Exhale was also taken from AVATAR’s foredeck this summer as we were sailing near Marina del Rey on our way north to the Pacific Northwest.
Click on any image below to open a full screen slideshow.
I just arrived home from a wonderful week long visit to New York City, where Agora Gallery hosted the artists’ reception for the opening of its newest collective exhibition, The Substance of Form, this past Thursday night. It was a thrill to have my work represented in a respected gallery in the heart of the Chelsea art district, and even have one of my images featured in Agora’s own blog announcing the opening of the show. Agora, described by CBS news as one of NYC’s 6 Best Contemporary Art Galleries, not only offers gallery wall space but also nurtures its stable of emerging, mid-level, and established artists by assisting with publicity and promotional opportunities.
As is usual at an Agora opening, the gallery space was packed with a festive crowd of attendees, standing room only. The participating artists came from all over the world including Spain, Canada, Japan, Austria, Italy, Columbia and more. The contemporary artwork on display spanned a wide spectrum of sculpture, painting, and photography.
It was especially gratifying that my family and friends were so supportive. An entourage of more than a dozen of us attended the reception, even though most had to fly clear across the country to join me for the opening! A special treat was the bouquet of flowers that Northern Trust Bank so thoughtfully sent to surprise me. Northern hosted my first exhibition ever a few years ago and it’s awesome that they continue to show their support! And to those of you who couldn’t attend, thank you so much for your congratulatory emails, texts, and Facebook posts!
Of course we allowed a few extra days to play tourist and enjoy multiple activities which still barely nicked the surface of what one can see and do in the Big Apple. Nights out at the theatre, wonderful restaurants, the obligatory boat ride to the Statue of Liberty, paying our respects at Ground Zero, gawking at the lights and crowds in Times Square late in the evening, and lots and lots of walking and taxi rides. NYC even took a respite from its usual hot and steamy July weather and served up perfect temperatures for the duration of our visit.
The photos below, playable as a slideshow, are the six limited edition photographic works currently hanging in The Substance of Form exhibition. They will be on display at Agora Gallery until August 19. After that, I am participating in another show scheduled for September right here in Tucson. More on that in a later post!
I am thrilled to announce that I am now represented by Agora Gallery in New York City, a contemporary fine art gallery established in 1984 that specializes in the promotion of works by national and international artists, providing original fine art to established and emerging collectors.
Agora’s director, Angela di Bello, has selected ten of my photographs to be offered on the gallery’s ART-mine.com website. And from July 29th through August 19th my works will be on display in Agora’s upcoming exhibition The Substance of Form. This collection of ten images, to be offered in limited editions of 25, has just gone live online and I invite you to peruse them on my very own ARTmine artist’s page for Carol Brooks Parker.
More details will be forthcoming; I have been working diligently getting up to speed in support of this exciting turn of events. First, of course, I had to select and fine-tune the portfolio of images to be submitted for Agora’s consideration. Upon acceptance, I have been generating source material for a biography, artist’s statement and press release, all of which are still in process.
Agora Gallery is an elegant spacious 8,000 square foot fine art gallery located in the heart of Chelsea which, with 500 galleries, is the major art district in NYC showing primarily the work of emerging and recently established artists. Agora Gallery offers a wide spectrum of additional resources dedicated to connecting artists with collectors worldwide. In addition to a dynamic schedule of fine art exhibitions, additional exposure is provided via Agora’s ARTisSpectrum Magazine and the website ART-mine.com which is one of the most comprehensive resources available worldwide for locating contemporary fine art for sale. Agora also hosts the annual Chelsea International Fine Art Competition and has multiple social media presences, including a Facebook page, a Twitter feed @Agora_gallery, an artist’s blog, and more.
I am thrilled to have been accepted into the fold and I’m already working on travel plans for the artist’s reception scheduled for July 31!
