I hear and I forget, I do and I understand, I see and I remember
Tag Archives: Sarasota
The sun lit the morning
Making art, for me, begins with awareness—the ability to notice what moves us in an ordinary moment. Sometimes that awareness appears in the smallest places, like standing at the kitchen sink preparing coffee. That’s what happened a few mornings ago. I slowed down long enough to feel the energy of sunlight as it gently started the day. I thought, that’s beautiful. Creating images is part of my daily life, so I paused, embraced that quiet, and made a simple photograph—a moment of morning arriving, carried on the light of sunrise.
As we were driving along the border of Kazakhstan toward Mongolia, we crested a hill. The field in front of us, all the way to the horizon, was filled with sunflowers as far as the eye could see. I had our fixer pull over. I got out of the jeep, went into the field, and made a series of images of the golden carpet of sunflowers in full bloom. It knocked me out!
Over the next couple of years, the magnificence of those sunflowers remained alive in my memory.
I wanted to learn more about sunflowers. My curiosity was not just about the beauty of their bright blossoms, but what they were all about. I ordered mammoth sunflower seeds, planted the seeds in a circle in my yard, waited, and watched. Over three months, I photographed the stages of growth from seedlings to decline. What I observed increased my appreciation for their beauty but raised even more questions.
Why did every flower develop a similar spiral pattern? Why were the seeds packed in so tightly and at an angle? My research revealed many connections between nature, mathematics, philosophy, and the rich history of intellectual inquiry — more on that in a later post.
The short-form answer to my questions is that the spiral pattern and the angle of the seeds in the sunflower represent the most efficient way to pack seeds in space and ensure reproductive success. The spirals are called “golden spirals,” reflecting Fibonacci numbers. The elegant angle of the seeds to each other aligns with the “golden angle’’. The pattern of the seeds in the sunflower represents what, in mathematics and aesthetics, can be called beauty — more on that in a future post. Leonardo Da Vinci described this phenomenon, which can also be seen in hurricanes, galaxies, pinecones, and pineapples, as the “Divine Proportions”.
One day, when the flowers were reaching maturity, I watched a pair of wild Brazilian Green Parrots as they fed on the seeds. The two parrots took up positions next to each other on two sunflowers. While one ate, the other stood guard, watching for any threat. After a while, they switched roles. The one guarding then ate, and the other provided protection.
Painted Eucalyptus Tree,
Sarasota, Florida
Image made with iPhone Camera
January 20, 22, 27, 29 10 am to Noon.
1338 Central Avenue, Sarasota, Florida 34236
Learn how you can make creative images with your iPhone Camera And Expand Your Way of Seeing
The course is designed to be fun, entertaining, and informative. The class is taught in plain english rather than techno-speak to make the technical functions understandable. You will leave the class feeling confident about being creative with your iPhone. You will learn how to control camera features like shutter release, focus, exposure settings, and a range of composition techniques. You’ll learn how to edit, organize, and store your images. You will also expand your creative way of observing.
As a Master Photographer (www.WayneEastep.com) I have been celebrated for my fine art, commercial and documentary photography. I have traveled the globe photographing commissions and assignments for National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and Fortune 500 companies including Nikon, Canon, Olympus, and Polaroid. I have produced and published six books featuring my photography and lectured at museums, universities, and professional organizations. I’ve taught this course to students who are beginners and professionals. Whatever your level of experience, this course will increase your ability with the iPhone camera and expand your way of seeing.
The fee for the course is $175. The class is limited to eight. Contact me to save your place.
Technological limitations with the iPhone11Pro camera results in an opportunity to discover new expressions in an image. This image for example was made after dusk in low light. Phone cameras have a challenge recording images in low light conditions. This image of the dingy creates a mood that an exacting image made with my high end Nikon would not. The pixels are breaking up, the colors degraded, a technical issue called “noise” and there is a loss of sharpness. The result is that the image takes on a painterly look and creates a feeling that is moody and ambiguous.
Photographer Wayne Eastep installing prints at Eastep Gallery
Photographer Wayne Eastep installing prints for the collection “The Living Seas” at Eastep Photography Gallery.
The exhibit of images will be on display December 22nd 11 am to 4 pm at 1338 Central Avenue Sarasota, Florida 34236.
The images are being offered to lift our spirits after the depressing experience with “red tide” along the coast of Sarasota in recent months. These beautiful underwater images were photographed in the Carribean, the Florida Keys and the Gulf of Mexico. They show what a healthy marine environment looks like.
Patti and Layla Eastep. Mother and daughter studio portrait, Sarasota, Florida.
Persona
A portrait should represent your likeness and evoke your emotional energy. That is my goal when making your portrait. Ithink of your portrait as being an image representing the outside and inside of you.A single image if made with focus and connection can be a true representation of your persona. However, no manner how successful the single image is it will not represent the whole truth of who you are because you are way too complex.At the moment the photograph is made you may be open and the still image can communicate that openness.You may also be quiet, cautious, and have wit, chances are the single picture will not communicate all of those aspects of your persona.When making your portrait I will guide you to being present in the moment and not get concerned about trying to show all the aspects of your persona.Let’s be satisfied with getting one image that reflects who you are. When you open your spirit and allow your energy to move and I focus my attention and spirit we can connect in 125th of a second to create an image that communicates your persona. My Portrait Studio is located in downtown Sarasota at 1338 Central Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236.I’ve put a lot of intention into creating a space that is warm, comfortable and safe with the goal that you will feel good about having your portrait made.I look forward to working with you to “capture” your persona. To schedule a time to make your portrait contact me; WayneEastep@Gmail.comor call 917.675.0640.
While photographing the 2017 eclipse on Lido beach in Sarasota, Florida a gentleman from Ireland came up to show me his watch and asked, what do you think is going on”? The minute and hour hands were moving on their own spinning freely on the face of his watch.
Two women walked along the beach each with a Cheerios cereal box with two holes cut into the narrow end of the box making it a pinhole viewing device for safe viewing of the eclipse.
A woman from Argentina wanted to know if that was a fisheye lens. “Yes”, I answered. “I thought so, I learned about that in a photography class I took”, she said.
Two women from South America sat down on a towel beside me. After awhile they asked, “has it started or is it finished”. I answered, “it’s about 75% complete”.
A man who had been walking in the surf came up and asked, “Can I take a look”? “No, I am working” I answered. “I see, ok” he replied and walked back into the surf.
Having seen images of other total eclipse’s I was eager to see the corona around the sun. Lesson one in photography, often what you think you’ll photograph won’t happen. So it was with this eclipse, no corona. The second lesson of photography, stay put and accept what’s before you, move beyond looking and SEE. I realized I was standing at the water’s edge with the sky above and within this stage set a celestial drama was playing out. The poetry of earth, ocean, sky, sun, and moon seemed good enough to me. So I made the images you see here.
FLORAL ESSENCE is available in hardcover and softcover versions through Blurb.
42 page book showcasing photographic art prints of flowers on exhibition at the Flour Parlor in Sarasota, FL
The 42 page book showcases the photographic art prints by Wayne Eastep on exhibit at the Flour Parlor in Sarasota, Florida. I hope you enjoy the exquisite design and lush beauty of these flowers. Thank you for your support.
When you are in Sarasota come by and see the show and enjoy some very fine coffee and tasty desserts by Amy Nichols of the Flour Parlor.
One of Sarasota’s finest boutique bakeries is exhibiting Flower Essence, a show of photographic art prints by photographer Wayne Eastep.
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.
Exhibition February 4 – May 14, 2015
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.
Caterpillar (Monarch) eating in preparation for metamorphosis
Magnificent shelter of the Monarch
Butterfly emerging from the chrysalis
Monarch drying it’s wings preparing for the first flight
Ten days are the time of metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly. Over the four hours before the butterfly emerges the emerald-green color of the chrysalis case will change becoming transparent. During this phase you can see through the case markings of the Monarchs wings wrapped tight around the caterpillar/butterfly body. In order to see this spectacular performance one needs to sit and watch, the change can happen at anytime. Leaving for one minute could result in missing the magical moment. Patience rewards with a memory of wonderment and beauty that you can recall and cherish, what a precious gift.
Monarch drying it’s wings preparing for the first flight
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