Not the Same Old Thing

“The same thing again.” You may hear people say,  “Another picture of a leaf.”  And even though the subjects are similar, there are always differences. Patterns, textures, and colors vary in subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle ways.  No two leaves, trees, or rocks are the same. These slight differences make these seemingly “same” images so unique. It is this uniqueness that makes me photograph the same subjects so often. It is the subtle differences that make them so fascinating to photograph. The intricacy and individuality that make each image something new.

But it goes much deeper than that. It’s not just “another leaf, tree, or a rock face. " It is an old friend who has so many stories to tell. And I want to hear them all. It can be a story about a place—the mountains vs. the prairie. A story of endurance. Standing against the sweeping winds in the canyons, or enduring the bitter cold winter along the shore of a Great Lake. There is more beneath the surface of “the same old thing.” It is a story of survival and regeneration. A story of standing the test of time. Facing adversity and living to tell the tale. It is never “the same thing again”. There is always a unique story, a new point of view, a new experience to be shared.  

Remember, it’s not just “another picture of a leaf.” It's a portrait of an old friend—a friend with so many tales to tell. And I, for one, can not wait to hear it.