Pollock Inspired, Gamble's Oak, CO © Jay Goodrich

I love abstract painters. Jackson Pollock is probably my favorite. His use of household paints which he poured all over his canvases was completely out of the ordinary for his time.

“When I am in my painting, I’m not aware of what I’m doing. It is only after a sort of ‘get acquainted’ period that I see what I have been about. I have no fear of making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through. It is only when I lose contact with the painting that the result is a mess. Otherwise there is pure harmony, an easy give and take, and the painting comes out well.”

To see his paintings up close is truly an amazing experience. There is actually a depth to them that photos alone can never highlight. When I was out shooting this day in Colorado, this unfolding scene reminded of his work. It still might be a little too literal, but I love it anyway.

Liquid, Arizona © Jay Goodrich

I have an obsession with modern artists. Van Gogh, Dali, Picasso, and Pollock are a few of my favorites. I love the way they abstract their visions and leave the viewer to interpret the meaning for themselves. I know how I composed, created, and now presented this image to you, so it has an entirely different meaning to me. I wonder though, what it might mean to you? What do you see?

Reflection Abstract, Canyon Lake, Arizona © Jay Goodrich

I was looking for the abstract today. I found it at the marina of Canyon Lake in the Superstition Mountains outside of Phoenix, Arizona. The marina manager was kind enough to accept my request to be let into the private dock area, which allowed me to shoot image upon image of abstract water reflections. The reward occurred when an American coot floated into my composition. A new kind of camouflage.

Rock Topo, Red Dirt Creek, CO, ©Jay Goodrich

I often look to abstract painters for inspiration in my photographic work. This idea of looking elsewhere is not new, I know many photographers that do it. It has done one major thing for me – put me always on the look out for new and interesting compositions. I don’t care what time of day it is, how good the light is (well for the most part), where I am, what gear I have with me, if I see something that catches my eye, I have to catch it with a camera. It could be the most simple of things or the most difficult subject I have ever tried to photograph. I will not quit until what caught my eye is recorded to something, even my iPhone, for availability to share with others at some point.

This month’s image came to me during a private workshop that I was teaching just after traveling for close to a month. During that month I was backpacking for a good part of my travels, which means I was looking at a topographic map constantly. When I discovered this rock, it immediately reminded me of those maps – pinnacles, and valleys. I grabbed my macro lens and had my participant stand next to me to block the late morning light. The subtle reflections added a subtle glow to the image. Taken with a Canon 1Ds Mark III, 100mm macro f2.8 lens, Gitzo tripod, Kirk Ballhead, Singh-Ray Warming Polarizer. Mastered in Lightroom and Photoshop.

I have a new image that was just posted on Canadian Photographer Darwin Wiggett’s blog. To view it and read about it click here.

Painted Hills Abstract, Oregon © Jay Goodrich

Once we lost the sun due to the oncoming weather finally breaching the Cascade Range, I grabbed my 600mm and started to create abstracts of this amazing place. The first rule of photography-never stop shooting, even when you lose what you think is the best light of the day. The Painted Hills possess unlimited photographic potential! I am so happy that we decided to travel down here instead of getting beat up by the coastal torrent that is going on right now. Although, I am looking forward to the possibility of skiing later this week and the possibility of tons of new snow.

driftwood ©jay goodrich

Recently, I taught a workshop with Art Wolfe, John Greengo, and Libby Pfeiffer. We had a wonderful time running and hiding under a sitka spruce as it rained like never before on Second Beach just outside of La Push, Washington. At times, the grand landscape is not always available and instead of focusing on what it should be, we need to focus on what is available to us in every given moment. Nature is fleeting, changing, and always moving.

Art and I walked up to a pool of standing water that was covered with sea foam that was creating swirling patterns that looked like a Van Gogh painting. In the time it took Art to remove his camera from his back pack the image was gone, completely dispersed by our wind driven rain. Looking around for something else, I managed to find a similar patterning in a pile of drift wood. I captured a few images before it started to rain in sheets and drove even the heartiest of soles to cover.

About an hour later, in an attempt to redeem herself, mother nature turned off the rain. This led to all of the workshop participants cautiously proceeding out from hiding to shoot more imagery. What she failed to tell us in the memo is that this was going to become one of the most amazing sunsets myself, Art, John and Libby have seen in close to a hundred combined years of experiences.

The moral of the story is: never ever talk about fight club. Wait, sorry, never ever walk away bummed that there is nothing for you to shoot. Look around you, even at your feet, possibly under the tree you are hiding, and if even that fails wait and give it time. Your reward could be worth more than a thousand words.