Along a tour of what we called "The Civil Rights Trail", this was shot within the new National Memorial for Peace and Justice, in Montgomery, Alabama. The stark black and white within the shot...which was not "manipulated"....struck me as reflective of the long and often stark separation of our culture since I was a young boy.
When driving along an elevated road in New Mexico, I was immediately taken by this scene. How could you not think of Vincent Van Gogh when seeing this, even the step of the farmer is perfect. Moments like this come simply as a result of being aware of your surroundings. Talk of "capturing" a photograph makes perfect sense.
Sometimes a photo can evoke an environment especially well, when all the factors are right. Obviously in this case there had been a significant snowstorm, but it was spiritually rewarding to see the blue birdhouse holding it's own, and somehow humanizing the scene.
Along a tour of what we called "The Civil Rights Trail", this was shot within the new National Memorial for Peace and Justice, in Montgomery, Alabama. The stark black and white within the shot...which was not "manipulated"....struck me as reflective of the long and often stark separation of our culture since I was a young boy.
I've learned that photography is an active rather than passive pursuit. I've discovered that there is endless room for creativity, by design, by perspective, by experimentation. Each has reaped benefits, and some of them work well. One important key is to keep my eyes open all around me, and to move about.
Larry O'Reilly
About
Larry O'Reilly took up photography in a more serious way after leaving the Smithsonian in 2007, where he had served as Assistant Director of the National Museum of Natural History, in charge of Exhibits and Public Spaces and in other capacities.
Active in conservation groups which use the power of nature images, he began studying the technical aspects of the camera and photographing thousands of images during travel. When that work eventually proved frustrating, he came to realize that he was seeking his own voice.
Experimenting with "painting" with light in a studio setting, his studies number in the hundreds, working in the dark and in many other constructs. Being generally pleased with the results, Larry has expanded his subject matter to include natural objects, and other items that he discovered can be photographed in what seems an infinite number of ways. His experimentation continues. O'Reilly participates in juried art exhibitions in the DC area.
Photo credit: Peg Koetsch
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