The Mystery of Light

Oil and light effect on cement, 25” x 18”

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In Africa's Thrall

This shot captures the feel of the Volta region. The rich, terra cotta soil and the baobab trees. The enormity and gravity of the land. All of these evoke a profound sense of mystery that draws me. Being still in that space demands an almost unbearable steadfastness.

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The Volta River near Akosombo

During a recent trip to Ghana, I had the opportunity to explore the Volta River region near the country's border with Togo. This image is a view from the terrace of my room at the Afrikiko Resort on the Volta near Akosombo.

The Volta River region is the home of the Ewe people and their fascinating villages and markets. The terrain is unusually mountainous for West Africa and there numerous waterfalls and rock formations throughout the area. I met some remarkable people along the way who helped orient me to their region. They also helped to disorient me at one point by introducing me to palm wine, but that's another story...

Winter reflection

I learned recently of the loss of my friend, Ed, to lung cancer. His greatest gift was his capacity to see the world with "fresh eyes". Learning of his death caused me to reflect on his life and our friendship. I recalled a poem by Robert Bly:

Things to Think

Think in ways you've never thought before.
If the phone rings, think of it as carrying a message
Larger than anything you've ever heard,
Vaster than a hundred lines of Yeats.

Think that someone may bring a bear to your door,
Maybe wounded and deranged; or think that a moose
Has risen out of the lake, and he's carrying on his antlers
A child of your own whom you've never seen.

When someone knocks on the door,
Think that he's about
To give you something large: tell you you're forgiven,
Or that it's not necessary to work all the time,
Or that it's been decided that if you lie down no one will die.

...

Dedicated to my friend, Ed Trantham, of Mt Sterling, IL who will be deeply missed.