Artist's Commentary
A visit to Winterthur, the Dupont family estate in Delaware, inspired me to take dozens of photographs, all of them in color. But then I decided that several would look much more effective in black-and-white, hence the inclusion here of "Witch Tree," "Old Man Tree," "Magnolia" and "Enchanted Forest." The garden at our LBI home provides its own enchantment: one morning I happened to notice the interaction of early morning sunlight with the spray from the sprinklers. The result is a series of Zen-like studies I call "Water Garden"; my favorite two are depicted here. "A Convocation of Trees" represents a rare excursion into special effects (see more examples under Miscellany); the spookiness of that scene has drawn a lot of comments. "Caladium"  and "Rose Petals" are two of several studies I've made of the texture of plants and flowers; black-and-white forces you to focus on the patterns. Similarly, stripping the color away from the boats and moorings in "Barnegat Light Harbor" makes for starker, more dramatic compositions. "Splendid Turbulence" is one of many shots I've taken after a major storm has churned up the surf; you can find a few more examples among my Shore Scenes. "Sailboat" may be my favorite black-and-white composition in that it's the perfect confluence of sea, boat and jetty. Unlike many shots that are lucky accidents, I saw it all coming together and raced to get my camera. "Beachscape" is meant to underscore the vast expanse of shore and sky, while the more intimate "Sandprints" is another study of forms and textures. How many ways can you photograph "Old Barney"? This one I hope evokes the massiveness of the lighthouse. What struck me in "Dune Forest," taken at Montauk State Park, was the interplay of light, shadow and wind among the undulating dune grasses. Closer to home, I've taken countless shots of our North Beach jetty but this is the only time I can recall seeing snow on the beach. (You'll note I've cheated a bit here; it's technically a color photo, but the sea is slate-gray and virtually all color has been drained out of this winter scene, so it really belongs in this section.) "Winter Path," with its intricacy of tree branches, evokes, for me, a Wyeth print. "Snow Branches" mesmerized me with their icy latticework. Finally, meet Moses, our "Guard Dog." Here he's guarding an empty laundry basket. Why? He won't say. He's a quiet dog, our Moses, and very easy to take care of.