“The painter constructs, the photographer discloses.”

- Susan Sontag  

We were on last years Abstract Photography Workshop at South West Rocks and I seemed to be working rather randomly on techniques.  The occasional photograph rose above lacklustre.  I was pottering. Experimenting.  Working without much focus. 

Then one afternoon I was on the beach and I noticed a beautiful tree that had a lovely clean background. I started to play with it.   

Something beautiful emerges.  More than a photograph, it was a concept.   

Abstract trees.  A series to complement my lifelong project of trees.  Perhaps it simply is an off shoot.   

Anyway, what and why doesn’t matter as it is still unfolding.  What matters most is that it suddenly gave me direction, goals and purpose.  For the rest of the workshop I had my project to focus on.  Then the photographs and art flowed freely.   

Art is like that.  It ebbs and flows.  It changes.  It isn’t consistent.  That’s probably why I love it so, the unpredictability of it keeps it exciting. 

It is important to have projects and goals.  Defining them clearly really helps.  It makes life easier and gives us focus.  It is something I am doing all the time with photographers, and that is helping them to clarify their projects.   

We still have places on this years workshop at South West Rocks.  It is in July.  http://www.lensschool.com/workshops-tours/south-west-rocks-abstract-workshop

We are staying a second week for one of my gentle tours as well.   http://www.lensschool.com/workshops-tours/south-west-rocks-photography-tour

Beach side forest.  South West Rocks. Photograph and text copyright ©️ Len Metcalf 2018