K ALTON SPENCER JR. (Naples, ME)

Photography - my kind of photography, at least - is slow. And that’s the largest measure of its appeal. In the midst of the hustle, something seizes my attention: a flower, a reflection, a waterfall, a snow-covered mountain, an eyebrow, a hand. Why? What is it about it that is remarkable? What is there to see? What stirred an emotion?

It may not be readily apparent. The camera is clarifying. I move around the scene or the subject, higher, lower, closer, closer still. Change lenses. Change again. I’ve never seen a morning glory blossom in this way before. Mount the camera on the tripod. Focus. Select aperture and shutter speed. Scrutinize the edges for distractions. Click. Dig out the reflector. Change settings. Click. Dig out the diffuser. Change settings. Click. Dig out the polarizer. Change settings. Click. Back away. A different angle. Lying on the ground. Reset the tripod and camera. Click. An hour has passed. I’ve been living in the moment. And I’ve come to know the morning glory.

website | (207) 838-3618