Looking at one of my images is like looking at a page from my journal. Instead of using words to express myself, I use images. My images record my emotional reactions to the world around me. Sometimes they are celebratory, filled with awe and astonishment. Other times, they are more subdued, contemplative, or reminders of deeper thoughts that indwell me. In addition, there are the few whimsical and almost comical things I observe. And I certainly don’t want to overlook the spiritual feeling and connection that comes over me while observing the creation.

I love color but shoot black and white often. A lot of my images are minimalist in their content. I also like capturing contrasts in life. Bold, simple, often with a limited color palate, seems to be a fair description of a lot of my images.

Not only are my images an expression of myself, they have also become reminders and teachers as well as friends. I don’t always choose what an image will remind me of. There are images in my catalog that aren’t even related to past events yet evoke times of near death and struggle and past success and happiness. To be honest, but unsure of exactly what is going on, it feels like the images choose me sometimes, both in the taking and the viewing. Indeed, on a good day, I can shoot for hours but it will feel like minutes. I get in the zone and I am not even consciously thinking about camera settings or compositions, everything is on autopilot as I respond to what is before and around me.

So why share my images with you? What am I looking for? Art is important. It can relax, inspire, transform, elate, motivate, and hundreds of other things. My hope is that you have art in your life. And if my images can be a part of your art and in some way touch you beyond the “what a beautiful photo”, I am touched as well.

Terry Garvin