Pathways

Includes bibliographical references (page 5)We are all involved with Pathways in one way or another. As soon as one is born the journey has begun. The traveling and choosing of paths never seem to end. Every decision made involves a path one must take to carry out the decision. The idea of space involves a path. Where did the path begin? We can only speculate if indeed it has a tangible beginning, and equally where and if it ends. Why are we traveling this path, where is it going, does it go anywhere at all? Is the end of the path merely an end or does it in fact lead to further paths to heaven or hell? On a more human scale, one must choose paths of his life to pursue goals through designated paths, or merely follow the path that happens to be there. There are the pathways on the never ending search for wisdom, leading to the recesses of the human mind, into another universe to explore with its own set of paths. All of these ideas are involved in the photographs of Pathways. I intended them to be vehicles for further thought as well as visual statements. In essence, Pathways is analogous to life. The evolution of an idea follows a path of its own, and I would like to relate how the idea of Pathways evolved as a theme for my photographic images. Initially, I began taking random photos of low light situations because I liked the tonal values I could achieve with these types of pictures. As I continued to photograph I noticed a tendency of many of the photos to be walkways, stairways, or other various paths that seemed to emerge from the darkness, ending in black voids. At this point I began thinking of the metaphors involved with these kinds of photos. This is when I decided to zero in on these types of images, and name the series Pathways. I have chosen not to include any forms of humanity in my photographs for a few reasons. One reason is I believe these images are stronger by themselves without the human element involved. Secondly, I feel one is ultimately alone in his search, his mind, and eventually in death. Thirdly, I find a somewhat surreal quality in many of the photos, that the starkness, and lack of life seems to enhance. In conclusion, I feel Pathways may be the beginning of some very important work ahead for myself as an artist, as well as a thinker. It poses many questions, but offers no answers, for at this point the answers do not seem as important as the search, the quest and possibly, the eventual answers that may be found. Perhaps that is when it will be time to retire from life