Waterlines

This series was shot over a 12-month period along a 30-foot section of an aqueduct near my house. All of the images are reflections from small sections (less than two square feet) of the surface. Reflected in the water are sky, clouds, trees, fences, a stone dam, an arched bridge with metal railings and a telephone pole and wires.


I find the variety of images remarkable. No two days are ever the same. The lines, shapes, colors, textures and patterns all change depending on the speed and depth of the water, whether the surface is calm or roiled, the direction, angle and color of the sun, the velocity and direction of the wind, the shapes and hues of the clouds, the colors (or absence) of leaves, the presence of snow, fog and ice -- all affect how this tiny microcosm projects the surrounding environment.


Some images are organic; some look like faces of people, animals, birds and fish; some like X-rays of muscles, organs and veins; some like spirits ascending to heaven and some like demons emerging from hell.


Because most of the environment is constantly moving (water, clouds, leaves), the reflections change much faster than the eye can record. I'm often reminded of Paul Klee's quote: "Formerly artists depicted things that were to be seen on the earth, things people liked to see or would like to have seen. Now the relativity of visible things is made clear and hence the belief is expressed that in relation to the world as a whole the visible is only an isolated example and that other latent truths are in the majority." During each photo session, my camera will record hundreds of pictures shot at 1/1,000th of a second and only later when I get home and view the images on a monitor do I see the "latent truths" that truly "are in the majority."


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