I have such a large body of undeveloped work that it seems inevitable whenever I am searching for something specific, I stumble upon photographs just sitting around for their turn in line. Unfortunately, I tend to not do this in a very orderly way, such as by date. I wander into these rabbit holes of my archives and develop photographs as I get inspiration to do so.
As it turns out, I wasn’t even searching for these particular types of images. I was searching for fish at cleaning stations to respond to a photo editor’s call for images. I didn’t have anything I considered good enough for this particular publication. I suppose they are related in a tangential way: fish –> oceans –> beaches –> sand
This haphazard way of stumbling upon past exposures I’ve created seems reflected in the “way the wind blows” patterns in the sand. There may be some ultimate underlying force that drives things the way it does, but I have yet to comprehend it.
These images are gorgeous. They remind me a bit of aerial photos of Icelandic rivers I saw recently. The patterns were similar though I especially like what you did with the monochromatic tone.
I suppose it’s appropriate that I should come across your post on Sir John Tenniel’ birthday; the man who illustrated the 1865 first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, an egnimatic tale no more mystifying than these images found, of all places, down a rabbit hole 🙂
Your haphazard stumbling upon these past exposures was most fortunate indeed.
Thanks! Indeed, part of my fascination with nature is in repeating fractals, whether they be those Icelandic rivers (which I would kill for photos of – they are gorgeous) or these much more simplistic views along a beach. And as it seems, you created another rabbit hole for me in looking up Sir John Tenniel. It must have escaped me that Alice’s adventures were that old. I knew — old — just not 1865 old. Then I found Alice categorized on Wikipedia as “Literary nonsense” as such “The effect of nonsense is often caused by an excess of meaning.” And that leaves me wanting to know more about nonsense! Rabbit hole here I come.
Mark, do you remember the Paul Masson wine marketing campaign in the late ’70s and early 80’s where Orson Welles promised for Masson: “We will sell no wine before its time.” Well, I often think we “find” potential in certain archived images when it’s their time or more accurately when our artistic vision has reached a point where we see and develop their true potential. 🙂
Lovely images!
I do remember that, and that is a great analogy. Very true indeed.
As well as our changing tastes or skills – I know I develop images differently than I used to. Thanks Earl.
P.s. sorry your comment was held for moderation for some reason. I assume you didn’t pick up some spamming gig in your retirement as a little side money.
Nope, I’m afraid that field is already way over crowded if my email and phone is any indicator…but I’ll keep it in mind.
Like you, I also have a number of “sand pattern” photos and although I don’t have enough variety to make a scientific study, I have come to believe that there are unique “signatures” to the sand patterns on beaches in different places.
Rabbit holes can be fun!
Yeah, I’m guessing a lot of people probably have been stopped by these on any particular beachfront. They seem much more likely to be found in isolated places away from “grooming activity.”
By the way, those patterns look as if they could be a whole project in and of themselves!
I’m in the same boat with undeveloped stuff. Plenty to keep me busy for a long time. A lot that I just don’t have the will to cull just yet.
Yes, the random discoveries are more fun. I’ve at least color marked many of them in Lightroom so it is easy to go back when I feel like it. Maybe it will develop into a project.
Cool photo! I know the way you feel. I often think that even if I never shot another photo I would have enough in the Lightroom catalog that is unprocessed you last me a lifetime. It’s interesting and fun to see what one finds down the rabbit hole. Until we start to think about doing it systematically. That sorta takes away some of the fun of random discovery. So rabbit hole it is!