The Forest and the Meadow

The rolling verdant landscapes of western Massachusetts have been home to five generations of my family, including my children. I have also spent many years living away from New England, mostly in the American southwest, where experiences of awe in the natural world are easy to come by. In contrast, this part of southern New England doles out less overtly majestic natural splendor.

This project is an exercise in deep observation of the natural world. As a child, I was attuned to what I perceived as the living forces in the forests and meadows, and on the banks of rivers and ponds. In my memories, my experiences of being in these places often radiated with the sense that I was in the presence of a greater power. In recent years, the meditative, repetitive work of daily observation in my home landscapes with my camera has again nurtured this sense of reciprocity, along with an abiding appreciation for my home.

We attach spiritual meaning to landscapes we feel are important. Importance, however, can be subjective. Though the places pictured in this work offen appear modest at first glance, they are also awesome in the true sense of the word. I hope that my work will serve to cultivate an appreciation of the value of being observant in wild places, because at the heart of the collective fight for climate justice is connection to and love for the natural world in all of its iterations.