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wondrous grace
The afternoon sun through the windows gave a nice sideways light to the mural on the wall, which is why I made the photo. (Of course.)
I am often realizing things about my photographic style seem new to me. That’s sort of silly, right? I mean, I take a LOT of photos. I try to be purposeful with them. I think I carefully compose and understand what I’m seeing in the viewfinder before I press the shutter. So it seems like my style would be established by now, and further, that I would know why I do things the way I do.
These series of images from the meetinghouse has reminded me anew how much I depend on the darkness in the images – the darkness that is complete black. The darkness that is, technically speaking, “too” dark. But in my mind, what good is the light unless it’s balanced with the dark? How much less value does the known and clearly visible parts of an image have if it’s not offset by parts you can’t see?
Which leads me to wonder how much more joyous the bright parts of life are when they are balanced against life’s darknesses. It’s the balance that makes it work. In photography. In life.
South Solon Meetinghouse
Solon, Maine
photographed 3.19.2026
of unseen things above
One of the contemplative things I did during our time here was to sit on the (cold) floor and look at views from a new, lower angle. This is something that I don’t do often enough but it proved to be the perfect place to settle in, to take long and careful looks around me. And to enjoy the way the light reflects on the old wood floor and bounces from the ceiling. And to think about the mystery of how perfect that all seems, how harmonious all the elements felt. And to wonder what makes current real life – away from meetinghouses – so clamorous and strident.
And, to reflect on how it’s up to each of us to find our sense of balance and harmony and to carry that with us when we go back home from the place where we found it.
South Solon Meetinghouse
Solon, Maine
photographed 3.19.2026
our strength proved false
The frescoes at the South Solon Meetinghouse were painted in the 1950s by students from the nearby Skowhegan School of Art. They are interesting, they both do and don’t go together. Some of the students were (it seems) heaving into their Picasso phase at the time. Others *may* have found some mushrooms in the forest, if you know what I mean.
But whatever their influences were, the frescoes definitely add a layer of mystical sensibilities to the place. And that mystical layer was ever-present in our contemplative few days there. (Don’t misconstrue what I am saying, though: we were silent, camera-toting monks. There was plenty of laughter. And conversation.)
South Solon Meetinghouse
Solon, Maine
photographed 3.19.2026
Footbridge to the end of the day
This is the next-to-last in our planned collaboration; however, Ehpem and I have another project up our photographic sleeves…
But in the meantime, here’s what he had to say about this place:
Our collaboration continues.
This bridge is built on top of a very large log. I wonder how they got the log across the gap. Perhaps a tsunami dropped it there long ago. What will the resort do when it needs replacing?
This is a lovely spot and the bridge which has bright red railings unexpectedly adds to the beauty. Perversely we both chose to process our photographs in black and white.
Lacking a very wide-angle lens and space to back up for an equivalent look, Melinda chose to emphasis the spider-like pattern of the bridge railings. From her point of view it is creepy to walk into that embrace.
I think these two photos are an excellent example of collaboration. They emphasize quite different aspects of the scene and do so in a way that enhances one another.
Ehpem:
Me:
I have to add that I am jealous of Ehpem’s shot – it’s so wide and gives more of the sense of what that bridge felt like.
Point No Point Resort, British Columbia
photographed 4.21.2015
February 29
A scene in a cemetery that’s called simply the Old Burying Ground.
on Casco Bay
Kittery Point, Maine
photographed 4.12.2011
One Day | One Image 