Introduction
The path to making this portfolio did not start with photography. Instead, I needed a relaxation method. I started hiking (or more accurately ambling) in the parks near my home. Fortunately, I live in the San Francisco bay area, and we have a large variety of local, state, and national parks nearby. I would enjoy watching and listening to the birds, flowing water, and blowing leaves. Just seeing what I could see. About three years ago, I decided to try to photograph the locations. For me, photography added the thrill of visual discovery. Just by bringing along my camera, I begun discovering many visual delights that I would have never noticed before. Examples include the beautiful arrangement of leaves on the ground, the texture of rocks and the patterns in flowing water.
Initially, I started with no plans for making a portfolio. I just took photographs of scenes and details that I found interesting or beautiful. Later at the urging of a friend, I looked back at my work and was surprised to find a portfolio. The name, ‘Woodland Quiet’, reflects my most important lesson for making a good photograph, a quiet mind.
Why infrared? I have always loved the gorgeous black and white landscapes of many other photographers. However, I was very curious about the possibilities of infrared photography after reading a magazine article and just had to try it for myself. So, I converted a digital SLR to infrared and started experimenting. I have certainly had many, many failed images but the good ones more than make up for the misses. With infrared, I love the feeling of peeking into another dimension that I cannot quite see and bringing back an image.
