Yesterday, on G+ I shared an image “30 km per hour” that anticipates a view. It was also posted on Facebook so you may have seen it there as well. The perspective of this image of the mountains seen in the distance beyond the road and human clutter of power lines and the image I want to share today have something in common. They are both approaching “the view” indirectly. The beauty and mystery of the sea is only glimpsed rather than being the central visual focus of the frame. However, “the view” is still the emotional drive of both the images.
I haven’t made “Evidence of the Sea” available for purchase yet because it is still only an idea I am exploring. That idea is – what is the power of leaving the most tasty bits of a scene to the viewers imagination. Here the sandstone tells the story in vivid lines about the preceding tides and storms. It is calm and clear and beautiful by the sea today but in the evidence left behind on the sandstone we know it is not always so. I sense that we would miss the glee and delight of this gorgeous day if we had no reference to the dark gray, the freezing winds, high tides, hail and the snow during the weeks before. Tell me, would you feel this blue sea and sky as deeply if this was all that I shared with you?
SPROUT: How do you create depth of experience in your creative work?
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Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.
From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com
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Creative Potager 
I believe in the validity of your words. I think your comments can be said not only of art but of life as well. You can’t appreciate the sun unless you’ve felt the raindrops.
Thank you for your interesting question. To answer… To create depth in my writing, I have to live with my characters. For me, they become far more than names on a computer screen. (And hopefully for my readers as well.) I experience their lives—and, in some ways, become them.
Yes Leanne, I can see how that works – to become the characters. When I paint I become the sea, the sandstone and the sky. When I photograph it is the same but the elements seldom separate in the same way as they do when I am painting. When I photograph it is like they are talking over top of each other and I must single them out in order to really hear and see what it is needs to be captured.
The combo definately works. I love the contrast and the BLUE is spectacular. I’ve learned through potoraphy, that shooting “head on” (with the camera or in life) is the least interesting option and often less rewarding than the crawl-on-your-belly shot. . . sometimes going allllllllllllll the way around the barn works best. . .in showcasing the “soul” of the barn.
I can completely relate to going all around the barn in order to showcase its soul Alison. I will remember this analogy the next time I pick up the camera to capture a subject 🙂
Terrill – I love the perspective you captured through your lens. It’s causes one to pause and reflect. Sort of like tasting bitter and sweet — you appreciate them both all the more for the compare and contrast.
SPROUT: How do you create depth of experience in your creative work?
When writing, I strive to “show,” not “tell.” For example, instead of saying:
The man was angry. (telling)
One might write instead
The man slammed his fist on the table and stomped out of the room. (showing)
This showing Laurie rather than telling hold true for photography and painting as well Laurie. I think it is where the fleeting brush strokes are born – in the showing in the most minimalist expression what is being experience.
Wow I love the blue in this one and it is what caught my eye and held me. Then I saw what looks like a sail of a boat way off…I only came back with my eye to find the rock and moss and tide line – the cracks in the rock were so there.
Going deep just happens when I stay in practice with writing or listening – it just comes…singing it was easy and often/now no more that path
nice work and sharing – enjoy the story telling of the view
Thank you Patricia – I appreciate your thoughts and contributions as always. I like how your shared the movement of your eye through the image. Seems like that blue might have stolen the show 🙂
Terrill,
I just had an art lesson! Through your example and expression of what is going on in your mind and the photograph itself.
I love the sweep of the sandstone, it has is on movement, and it contrast to the deep blue of the ocean which gives the eye an escape route across the ocean to the Mountains which I would have not even seen had you not pointed them out.
SPROUT: How do you create depth of experience in your creative work? I am not sure that I do, and if I do create depth of experience it is unconscious. Or maybe the fact the most of my nature photography is created to conjure “depth of experience” in it viewing, the attention in the detail, the capture of those small “beauties” that surrounds us that we may miss.
I like how you found your answer while musing on the questions Jeff! I find your work has much depth of experience. No matter what the subject a story is always there to heard.
Terrill,
That is how I roll! LOL. I humbly accept your praise, even though my ego want to shout at the same time say, are you kidding?
Thank you so much!
You are most welcome Jeff 🙂
Your “work in progress” is always as fascinating (or close to it) as your finished product. You’ve imbued this latest work with a real feel and a tone, and that’s what will transform it into something special.
This one is still a photograph Sam but I have been thinking about what it might be like to render it in oils with these brushes of mine that are itching to do something. It is all a learning process as you note. I took some images today that are part of my musing from this one. I find it fascinating the shifts these understandings can make in how we see.