Growing up in south Philly, I learned some tough lessons from the men that guided me and as an adult, I made the decision to learn from nature for guidance. I also had a desire to discover a sacred place for solitude; a place to process emotions and heal old wounds. Through the years I’ve come to acknowledge that spending time in nature by myself is neither an option nor a self-indulgence for me. It’s as important to my well-being as food or sleep. The solitude of backpacking goes a long way to restocking my capacity for sharing with others. Saints, mystics, and prophets have praised the gifts that solitude has to offer. It allows them to gain access to their truest self and to connect more deeply with the rest of the natural world. 

 

In The Loupe

We set out on Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Annual "Art of the State" A feast for the eyes and the emotions; winners announced. 
I began photographing crosses ten years ago. They are composed in my camera with intention. The cross is a symbol of my faith and every time I place a cross in my viewfinder it’s my way of giving thanks to God for breathing inspiration into me so that I can move forward in my life and in my growth, so I can help translate the beauty of this world for myself and others.  And the beauty of our world exists in everything, in joy and sadness, in life and death, in suffering and redemption — everything I experience when I am shooting. I think all creative work has its roots in the Spirit of God which is all around us, even when we are numb to it. Even when we feel it has left us, but still, it is there.
No Masks Required!

Labyrinth of the Spirits

6/18/2023

Growing up in south Philly, I learned some tough lessons from the men that guided me and as an adult, I made the decision to learn from nature for guidance. I also had a desire to discover a sacred place for solitude; a place to process emotions and heal old wounds. Through the years I’ve come to acknowledge that spending time in nature by myself is neither an option nor a self-indulgence for me. It’s as important to my well-being as food or sleep. The solitude of backpacking goes a long way to restocking my capacity for sharing with others. Saints, mystics, and prophets have praised the gifts that solitude has to offer. It allows them to gain access to their truest self and to connect more deeply with the rest of the natural world.