The Definitive Psyche

Posted on January 9, 2017 by saydoyster under creative writing, edges, surfaces and spaces, personal photography, poetry, Uncategorized

Sometimes my mind catches a small wave of inspiration that sends me down a pathway that defies definition. This poem and its accompanying image is just such a journey. Sometimes if I am unable to meditate enough, I discover rough wrinkles of thoughts that create their own voice. I hope you will ponder this with me. Thanks for looking!!

Looking skyward elicits a sense of freedom
That begins in the eyes,
Journeys to the heart,
And rests fulfilled in the soul.

There is a quality of infinity
That opens the mind,
Expands the imagination
And rivets a sense of possibility.

I ponder a birds flight
That looks so playful and curious
So high up in the ethereal blue,
But is more likely task and duty bound.

Then I notice the intruding fence;
A symbol of boundaries,
Restrictions and limitation,
Of oppression and slavery.

I think of the history of the fence
And contemplate the duality of its purpose –
Protector or rejector
Enslaver or provider of safe harbor.

Then I reflect on the nature of the mind
And its ability to live within blurry boundaries;
Cordoned off by invisible ropes
That imply a certain sanity.

Denial and falsehood
Are hallmarks of a properly adjusted modern mind;
Wisdom and truth
The by products of wrestling with lies.

It is the fence and the sky
That symbolize a duality
So important to the battle
Between opposing opposites.

Truth is a lie
In the eye of the non-believer
And a lie is the truth
In the mind of the empirical slayer.

There is no resolution between
The sky and the fence;
Just an uneasy truce
That humbles even the wisest mind.

thedefinitivepsyche_j7a7968

Happy New Year 2017!

Posted on January 9, 2017 by saydoyster under edges, surfaces and spaces, Uncategorized

happynewyear2017_v3

Though a bit late, here is wishing everyone a Happy 2017. I hope we all have many more!!!

What is the true meaning of the word “face”?

Posted on December 27, 2016 by saydoyster under edges, surfaces and spaces, personal photography

While it was not the night before Christmas, it was, nevertheless, a moment of high energy and expectation. It was the moment more than 25 years ago when I had a bit of inspiration to begin a series I have called Faces. Since that time, I have created more than 50 images that loosely fit into the description of a “face”. I have not done any for a couple of years, but I wanted to share several that were created in the early 2000’s. I will post a few each month for the coming months until the various compositional styles have been revealed.

I would love some feedback from you if you are so inclined. ©1996-2016 by Bill Deuster. All rights reserved. Images may be used for personal viewing if you are so inclined. Thanks for taking a look! The first two share items from an office:

Clip Boy with freckles

clipboy_blog

Office Boy on blue

officeboy_blog

The open road signifies exporation and discovery

Posted on December 23, 2016 by saydoyster under edges, surfaces and spaces, personal photography, travel

I don’t know about you, but the open road for me has an attraction far greater than just the immediate scene or where I am going at the moment. I don’t why the vision of an open road has such a powerful emotional draw, but it does move me in ways that words fail an adequate description.

Below are several “open road” shots that I took in Iceland back in late September. Iceland is a land filled with an endless supply of such scenes. Note that, though these were shot over several days, the sun was a very shy player.

I am curious how the view of an open road may move you. Let me know 🙂

backtotheringroad_1060505

lonelyicelandicroad_1050685

ringroadstraightaway_1060335

Lava rock inspiration

Posted on December 10, 2016 by saydoyster under edges, surfaces and spaces

Back in September, I spent a few days in Iceland, a must visit destination for a variety of reasons. Though I shot a fair number of landscape photographs, I also had my eye out for unusal details that might inspire an art piece or two, three….

The two images that follow are based, respectively, on detail shots of a large lava rock formation and an area of lava pebbles of varying shapes and sizes.

The first piece – “Lava Rock Abstract” – exists as a 40″ x 30″ giclee 12 color fine art print. The dark details of the various formations are endless as is the inspiration they provide. I hope you enjoy this exercise in natural elements providing the basis for abstract art.

lavarockabstract_1050427

The second piece – “Lava Pebbles Mosaic” is a 12 color giclee fine art print that measures 32″ x 42″. It has as its essence a bed of random lava, pumice pebbles (try and say that five times rapidly, LOL). These are quite common in Icleand, but when you get down close to them they are beautiful and full of personality.

lavapebblesmosaic_1050365

Winter’s Hibernation

Posted on December 9, 2016 by saydoyster under creative writing, edges, surfaces and spaces, personal photography, poetry

wintershybernation_1110636

Winter is the hibernation of life energy;
A period of latent consciousness
Carefully burrowed from the cold…,
Dreaming, perhaps, of its re-awakening.

Winter is a time of striking graphics –
Black, white and muted color palettes –
Wide stretches of grayness enhanced
With white flakes and glossy coats.

Winter is unpredictable, slow and cold –
Challenging those who engage it
With humbling circumstances and
Life-defeating conditions.

Winter confronts both the mind and body
Forcing the spirit to adapt and learn.
Winter’s cold is shocking, sobering,
And surmounted only by Spring’s Sun.

With the the days growing shorter, the shadows longer and colder temperatures once again upon us, I have been feeling like winter is ready to pounce. As I prefer a more temperate climate, winter often makes me reflect on its challenges and the opportunities it affords. Before I know it, though, Spring will announce its arrival and I will once again enjoy its warmth. Don’t be bashful – share your thoughts on winter, the seasons, sunshine – any of the natural elements that can affect your mood or influence your ponderings.

Simple Pleasures

Posted on December 9, 2016 by saydoyster under creative writing, edges, surfaces and spaces, personal photography, poetry

Sometimes the simplest moments can provide the deepest satisfaction – the subtlest details, the greatest pleasure and joy. I know that it can entirely depend on the mood, state of mind, at the time; but I ponder over how much our modern life gets in the way of simple joy. The image/poem that you find below describes such a moment – the image taken and the poem written about two years ago on an early December evening.

feelingsofanautumnforest_1040654_dxo_flt

The poem itself –

It is calm, cool and peaceful
As the sun stoops
Below the fiery horizon.

Deepening dark blue skies
Expand as the light
Subsides to night.

A young branch grips
The few remaining
Leaves turned vibrant red.

Each leaf is curled inward
By desicant forces,
Drawing leaf shoulders into a cone.

A soft breath
Of rustling wind
Creates gentle motion.

Sounds of leaves remaining
Scratch across the path
Against the rolling rush of water.

As the day draws to a close,
Soothing sights and sounds
Exude serenity and joy.

The “virtual” life series

Posted on November 29, 2016 by saydoyster under creative writing, personal photography, poetry

i_have_been_virtualized_1000776_blog nothingnesscubed_1000786_flt

I am guessing I am not alone, but cannot find a comfort level with the idea of our lives becoming more and more a part of a virtual existence. I am not going to debate the pros and cons of the technology – my professional world would be far more limited without the digital revolution – but I don’t want to cede technology more power than it seems to demand from us either.

The two pieces above are part of a series based on the idea of a digital existence. I will let them speak for themselves. If you have a question or want to experience more, please let me know. Thanks for looking!! The text of the two pieces can be found below:

I Have Been Virtualized

I flicker
and roll
with static
thoughts
like scattered
bands of
noise
on my
computer
screen.

I am neither
color
nor
the absence
of color;
being nor
non being.

I have been virtualized.

Nothingness Cubed

Modern life
is lived as
a digital pixel
streaming through
glass fiber.

It is
X_es and O_es
streaming;
pretending
to be consciousness.

Reality falls
into a
virtual trap;
an abyss
infinitely deep.

No joy or sadness,
no pain or pleasure,
no connection or separation –
nothingness cubed.

All copy and imagery is copyrighted by the author but may be enjoyed for personal use only.

The Value of the Out of Focus Photograph

Posted on November 28, 2016 by saydoyster under personal photography, Uncategorized

Every photographer has shot vast numbers of images that are out of focus, poorly composed or horribly exposed (sometimes all the above simultaneously). Once in a while I find one of these missfires that has a certain graphical appeal. When I do find one, it inspires me to see if I can salvage it with dignity and value in a completely different way.

This image is based on just such a visual mutt. I don’t remember the original subject, but when I stumbled on the image that contained the firey red swish/swirls in it, I was moved, ultimately, to create what you see above. I call it the “Geometric Face of Fire”. The image itself is 38″ tall by 34.5″ wide and is printed in 12 pigmented colors on beautiful paper. I hope you enjoy!

Shaper of Beauty

Posted on November 28, 2016 by saydoyster under creative writing

Though I have been a photographer all my adult life, I have always from a young age written for my own pleasure. I find that composing poetry in conjunction with a particular image is a way of bringing all my creative sensibilities together. I enjoy the process and the challenges it presents – it feeds my soul.

What you see above is a digital rendering of a 16″ x 22″ fine art print. It is from a body of work that contemplates our spiritual nature using words embedded in natural imagery captured from the world around us.

I hope you find value in the work that I present here. I appreciate the thoughts and opinions of others, so I hope you will touch base if you have a comment or observation. Thanks for looking!!

All copy and imagery is copyrighted by the author but may be enjoyed for personal use only.