Haiku Photography

This scene along my driveway is a tale of two seasons. In the foreground the summer flowers are still near their peak of bloom, visited by a bumblebee. In the background the leaves of a Virginia creeper are turning brilliant red, a harbinger of autumn just around the corner. I shot this a little before sunset, as the orange sun made the leaves of the creeper and its host tree glow. By using a wide aperture only some of the flowers were in focus, and the vine beyond was just a haze of red, mingling with the defocused green leaves of the tree.
For many years I used cameras as research tools, documenting my studies of tropical forests. I photographed everything in a very literal way. Freed of these constraints, I now enjoy exploring what can be captured beyond a documentary record.
Bokeh is of particular interest to me. The Japanese word literally means blur and specifically the quality of blur, generally including points of light since those provide a specific feel to the out of focus parts of a photo. I used to write haiku poetry every day and on some levels much of my photography is a visual haiku. I focus on a scene in nature, often with a seasonal element, which is the kigo. I use bokeh as a cutting element or kiru, with the foreground focus contrasted subliminally by what is suggested in the background. I enjoy exploring new ways to see everyday scenes, a poetry of imagery.