
America Divided
November 9, 2016
Can Beauty be a Political Statement?
I speak for myself. Civility in America’s public arena is under challenge through crass, vulgar and denigrating speech. The growth in tolerance and egalitarianism over the past few decades is facing a setback through intolerant language and actions. When I watch tv news, read newspapers and listen to the radio I come away with the sense that America is in a dark threatening time.
As an artist what can I do to contribute to a more civil, tolerant, inclusive and positive society?
Can beauty be a counter to ugly language and behavior? I believe it can. The laws of science and human behavior support the principle of balancing forces. I offer beautiful images as an artistic and political counterbalance to the ugliness. I invite you to join me in the affirmation of life as we strive for refinement in our lives. What we visualize will have an impact on our attitudes and behavior. This is not a naive call for putting our heads in the sand or pretending that there aren’t a multitude of challenges to the common good. For me it is a recognition of the negative and a choice to turn toward the positive. In the face of darkness and ugliness, light and beauty is a revolutionary action.
To see more images in the Color & Light series visit WayneEastep.com

Yellow on Gold
To see other images in the Color & Light series visit Wayne Eastep.com
Abstract color study. Yellow and Gold.
I looked down at the edge of the driveway and noticed an inch worm making its’ way into the dirt. When I examined it I wondered, is an inchworm really an inch long? When I placed it on a ruler I saw it was three-quarters of an inch, at least this one was. As I photographed the inchworm it lay still and looked more like a twig, a rather effective camouflage. Enjoy the up close and personal look at this intriguing tiny creature.
Inchworms are classified in the phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera, family Geometridae.

Inchworms lack appendages in the middle portion of their body, causing them to have a characteristic looping gait. They are also called loopers.

This inchworm proved to be three-quarters of an inch. It was very effective at looking like a twig.

Seems animals and insects, like humans, cannot resist getting into each other’s business.
Looper, Inchworm on my property in Sarasota, Florida
A guest brought these tulips to a tea party my mother-in law Reba was having at our house.

Standard Red & Yellow Tulips, “Leen Van Der Mark” processed as a black & white image

Standard Red & Yellow Tulips, “Leen Van Der Mark” raw image as captured in camera.

Standard Red & Yellow Tulips, “Leen Van Der Mark” processed via Lightroom to produce this beautiful but a little disturbing image.

Bi-Color Standard red & yellow tulips “Leen Van Der Mark”, at the end of their bloom.
To see more nature images visit my website: WayneEastep.com
Standard tulips you can buy at the grocery store.
Amazon Lily outside my Studio in Sarasota, FL this morning.

Amazon Lily outside my Studio in Sarasota.
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae (am-uh-ril-id-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
| Genus: | Eucharis (YOO-kuh-riss) (Info) |
| Species: | grandiflora (gran-dih-FLOR-uh) (Info) |
| Synonym: | Eucharis amazonica |
The signature characteristic of Wayne Eastep’s photography is the ability to express the essence of a subject. His images go beyond representational pictures to touch the spirit of the subject, evoking an emotional response. In this exhibition he turns his attention to the exquisite design in nature and inherent beauty within flowers.
Eastep’s images are commissioned and collected internationally. They garner awards for books, documentary, and commercial assignments. His intention with each assignment is to go beyond the surface and look inside the subject. Photography for Wayne is both vocation and avocation. He is driven by a passion for the art of image making.

The sunflower an annual plant is native to the Americas. The flower petals within the sunflower’s cluster are always in a spiral pattern. Generally, each floret is oriented toward the next by approximately the golden angle, 137.5 degrees, producing a pattern of interconnecting spirals, where the number of left spirals and the number of right spirals are successive Fibonacci numbers. This pattern produces the most efficient packing of seeds within the flower head.
128 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236
Contact: Amy Nichols 941.993.8649 flourparlor@gmail.com http://www.flourparlor.com
Hours: Monday – Friday 8 – 5:30, Saturday 9 – 4
This image of a Tubeworm photographed in Saba is beautiful. Rather than saying more I’ll leave it at that.
To see more of my underwater images visit: EastepPhotography.com
When I first saw pillar coral I was amazed by the sense that light was being emitted from within the undulating tentacles . Coral is one of those phenomenal life forms being both animal and plant.
This image is another example of the beautiful design found in nature.
More underwater images can be seen at my image archive: EastepPhotography.com