Rorschach

Week 6

Rorschach

I captured this image standing in the middle of a redwood grove on a shoot last week in the Santa Cruz Mountains. For some reason as I reviewed this set of images from the day,  Rorschach came to mind. According to Wikipedia, the Rorschach test, administered by asking what the test subject sees when looking at a series of random ink-blot patterns is intended to analyze thought processes, personality characteristics or emotional functioning. I've always heard of it in connection with trying to see how someone perceives their world, or what currently preoccupies their thoughts. The abstract nature of the image above led to the association with the Rorschach test, but it wasn't long before I started to notice meaningful images and shapes. The longer I stared at it, the more complex the image became, infused with all kinds of references to current events, etc. that I'll spare you from, but even I was surprised.

I think with anything, both literally and conceptually, when we look at something long enough, different patterns and connections will emerge, something more than that which is represented at first glance. That item of scrutiny can be a picture, similar to the one above. It can be a work strategy, social or political topic, even a worldview. I believe we are built to deepen our understanding. We want to make sense of things that at first glance don't seem congruent with what we already think we know, and we want to verify that how we perceive things is indeed right-thinking. Whether you believe the results of these analyses are constructs based on predetermined thoughts or revelations as a result of the search itself is a topic for another conversation, I suppose. I do think, however, we are misguided not to engage in this type of analysis. To cruise through life without the opportunity to broaden and deepen our understanding of others, of ourselves, and of our higher power is a service to no-one.

Don't get me wrong. We can't walk around in an introspective fog, not moving forward with our lives and plans, afraid to take action because we haven't "thought about it long enough". We have to make the best decisions we can based on the current understandings we have. But to not be open to re-interpretation, fresh perspective, and indeed, correction, is to close the door to deeper understanding and wisdom. Who wants to do that?





image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-70 2.8L lens, 1/60 sec @ f8, ISO 400

Contrast

Week 5

Contrast

February 5, 2011

Sometimes looking at an image in stark contrast leaves an indelible impression, a more lasting and clear memory of what is being beheld. I'm no color or visual arts expert, but it seems that boldly contrasting colors, or contrast provided by light & dark (as with the image above) simplifies, lends clarity, and enhances the image. The components of the image that oppose one another also seem to give vibrance and attention to their opposite elements. The tree seems to point out the interesting cloud consistency in a manner it may not have if there were more color and detail in the hillside. Likewise, the boldness of the silhouetted tree and hilltop would not be as prominent if the sky were darker and less dynamic.

I think similarly, moments and aspects in our lives can be more vivid when viewed in relief against the events and circumstances in the lives of those near us, or in our own changing environments. Our appreciation of the small studio apartment we live in shifts when we are exposed to the corrugated metal and cardboard shanty shared by a family of 5 outside of Manila, Kampala, or Port au Prince. The 60 hour work week or underpaid position that we bemoan is mourned when lost and replaced with joblessness. The beauty of human relationships emerges with clarity when conspicuously absent through loss, and conversely grief is more poignant the greater we love and value what is no longer ours.

Diversity, breadth of experience and cultures... contrast... these things lend a richness to our human journey that I, for one, am thankful for. It's a richness and depth that is a gift, one I don't think we can be truly aware of until we experience it, and that is worthy of being sought after.

image taken with Canon 5DMII, 70-200 2.8L lens, 1/1000sec @f11, ISO 400

Books

Week 4

Books
January 27, 2011

Last week I was hired to shoot a corporate event for a large Bay Area organization. Held at The Mountain Winery in the hills of Saratoga, the event was certainly at a beautiful location, and would be memorable if for that reason only. What stood out to me, though, and was refreshing to witness was the choice of activity for the night. Now I'm no stranger to team-building events, having been in the corporate world for over 10 years, but this was different. The company chose Impact 4 Good, a "socially conscious corporate teambuilding company" to be the central focus of the evening. There was no falling into each others' arms, no cheesy trust exercises for these seasoned executives (who have likely done hundreds of teambuilding events over the course of their careers.) Rather, this group of VPs and up played games. Cool games like tower-building with Jenga blocks and team-scrabble. They had trivia contests and book balancing races, where teams literally balanced books on their heads in slalom-like contests against their colleagues from around the world.

  Even more impressive than the unique activities they participated in, was the purpose of the night. These teams of professional men and women competed in these games to earn building materials; materials they they would use that night to put together bookshelves. These bookshelves would hold among others, the childrens' books that these executives contributed towards the philanthropy - a local school - benefiting from all of this effort.  

To me it was an interesting choice of philanthropies, literacy. I confess, it's not one that I think about very often, and yet one that has a huge impact on an individual's life... as well as the lives of the literate surrounding them. A few statistics* to think about:

• 50 percent of adults cannot read a book written at an eighth grade level. 
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• 20 percent of Americans are functionally illiterate and read below a 5th grade level. 
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• 3 out of 4 people on welfare can't read.
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• 20 percent of Americans read below the level needed to earn a living wage. 
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• 3 out of 5 people in an American prison can't read.
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• 85 percent of juvenile offenders have problems reading. 
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• Illiteracy has been proven to cause children to drop out of school. Dropouts cost our nation $240 billion in social service expenditures and lost tax revenues.  

*taken from Education-Portal.com


There are many worthy charities, and this isn't an endorsement of one over the other, but rather a positive statement about the impact individuals and organizations can have on their neighbors, on their local communities, and worldwide. This organization and these individuals chose to build needed bookshelves and contribute books to a local school, and I think that's pretty cool.

 

image taken with Canon 5DMII, 50mm 1.8 lens, 1/40 sec @ f1.8, ISO 640