Quote of the day: Jodi Cobb

"You get your best pictures when you engage in a process of discovering each other. I want the viewer to have an emotional response to the subject, without some obvious technique getting in the way." - Jodi Cobb

Quote of the day: Minor White

Reaching a 'creative' state of mind thru positive action is considered preferable to waiting for 'inspiration'.  - Minor White

Image of the Week, August 23 2010: Viginia Fire Dancers

Virginia Fire Dancers - Images by Kathryn Wagner
I was fortunate to attend the annual Let There Be Light event in the two years the exhibit was introduced. If you are in Charlottesville around my birthday, the twelfth of December, be sure to check out this inspiring and innovative evening of light based artworks. I was going back over some previous work and came across this set of three which I wanted to share, as I love relaxed concentration on the faces of the performers and the wonderful light provided by the fire. Wikipedia has a great article on Fire Dancing and the adventuresome one can find out how to do the basics with the DVD Poi Groove Basics - though I wold also highly reccommend taking a class as well to learn the safety techniques employed in this beautiful form of performance art.

Image of the Week, August 16 2010: Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Washington Monument were interesting subjects to focus on during a trip to DC. It was fascinating to observe how others interacted with these markers of our nation's history. The design, by Maya Ying Lin (a then 21-year-old Yale University architecture student from Athens, Ohio) does a wonderful job commemorating the individuals whose names are inscribed on this powerful reminder of 1960's America.

Quote of the day: Imogen Cunningham

"Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I'm going to take tomorrow." - Imogen Cunningham

Image of the Week, August 9 2010: Rural Virginia Farm

I am spending the week here on a break in rural Virginia. The farm above is adjacent to the property, hidden down a long two lane road. A wonderful surprise to come upon while walking. The beautiful landscape is dotted with the quintessential small towns that preside over crossroads of two-lane Virginia byways. Many of the communities that I will pass through next week on my way to Charlottesville, Virginia are designated Main Street Communities, meaning they have preserved the beauty of the downtown area, and that one could easily spend an afternoon strolling along, stopping to take in the summer sunshine.

Quote of the day: Mary Ellen Mark

"I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul, and I think you have to be clear about that."- Mary Ellen Mark

Image of the week, August 3, 2010: Great Blue Heron

Birdwatching is one of my favorite activities that easily accompany photography. Living in close quarters with the Virgin Islands National Park affords many wonderful opportunities to see birdlife, and the waterfowl are my favorite. This Great Blue Heron was spotted while out photographing on the edge of Waterlemon beach. The call that a Heron gives is quite distinct. Not to be confused with  the Great Egret, I love the grace and poise that these beautiful birds possess.

Quote of the day: Stephen Shore

"I discovered that this camera was the technical means in photography of communicating what the world looks like in a state of heightened awareness. And it’s that awareness of really looking at the everyday world with clear and focused attention that I’m interested in." - Stephen Shore

New gallery up on the website: St. John Carnival

St. John Carnival, U.S. Virgin Islands - Images by Kathryn Wagner

Quote of the day: Edward Weston

"The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process." - Edward Weston

Image of the week, July 19th 2010: Carnival Fireworks

St. John recently celebrated Carnival throughout the streets of town. A carnival village is set up every year in Cruz Bay. West Indian food and drink is served to the beat of Caribbean music heard during nightly concerts. The festivities concluded with a show of fireworks, usually done near the Fourth of July, and held this year on the Fifth of July. This is one of my favorite times of year in the West Indies and this year was no exception. I had a wonderful time capturing this exuberant celebration!