My Freedom
“Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage:”
It is my belief that freedom is the most important thing that governs our lives, but what is freedom to me? First, it is the ability to choose and the ability to control the events around oneself. The next step is to stand tall, own your space, and be true to yourself.
In 1642, Richard Lovelace wrote the above quote in “To Althea, From Prison.” In this poem, he identifies one type of freedom and finds a form of self-control that enables it. I identify self-efficacy as a critical skill or trait to develop to approach that freedom. But what is self-efficacy? According to Albert Bandura, “Perceived self-efficacy is concerned with people’s beliefs in their capabilities to exercise control over their events that affect their lives.”
If one believes they are in control of events, even if the belief is not true, it will help both performance and well-being. So how does one strengthen this belief, or, in other words, increase self-efficacy? Albert Bandura’s theory suggests that it is through observing the world around us or through our own life experiences.
Ihave found that sometimes these significant observations may be fleeting and only realized in retrospect, such as in a photograph, or they may come as an epiphany, an “A-Ha” moment, and a photograph is a reminder of such a time. Recently, I watched seabirds from high on a cliff, flying into winds exceeding 60 knots as they worked their way to their feeding grounds. These imperial shags and rock cormorants didn’t stay in their safe, quiet place but adjusted their flight as they moved on to their feeding areas. As I look back on these photographs, I realize how wildlife often just adjusts to the conditions around them and goes on with life.
My life’s experiences define not only what I see but also how I see, and my photography has become a vessel for those experiences. What is shown in these images is at the center of who I am, and I hope that in some way they connect to your experiences and stories that define you. My desire is to make this clear enough so that you will spend time with these images and try to understand what I am trying to say or what they say to you. Spending time seeing, thinking, and responding to the images will allow you to perhaps take your own life experiences and develop thoughtful insight of your own.
The images in this portfolio are chosen because they elicit a feeling or response in me. My experiences have led me to adopt imagery of nature and landscapes because they are timeless, borderless, and universal.
I have found that we can learn by observing others or our surroundings. Studying and looking at photographs can allow us to spend time learning and observing in a way that is different from walking around, allowing us to think and respond to the image in front of us. Sometimes it is a literal observation, and other times it is metaphorical, but we can all learn by seeing.
I learn from others; I reinforce through observation; I cement through teaching. I have selected images that evoke strong feelings in me when I view them, and, much like having a guide on a trip, I hope these images help you see new possibilities. If you then find, through your own observations or your own photographs, that the journey is moving toward high self-efficacy, then I have been successful.
Inner strength is another key to a sense of freedom. In today’s world, noise and chaos constantly threaten to block the clarity and sense of calm needed to create the stability or security to reach that state. We bring some of this on ourselves and we, therefore, may have a choice of whether to allow this to occur or take some action to reduce the noise and /or chaos around us. Some of this happens because of situations beyond our control and by recognizing noise and chaos for what it is, we have the opportunity to be calm and clear about the world around us.
I remember photographing the aftermath of a forest fire in the Canadian Rockies and thinking about all the noise and chaos at the time, but as I looked at the aftermath, I saw adaptation and renewal. Amid heavy clouds and zero visibility, the Dolomite summit of Sass Rigais revealed itself, and it made me feel that in troubled times we will again see the light.
It is through my photographs or through observing the world and nature around me, that I recognize the grace and the power or the poise and the strength that are so important to who we can be.
Furthermore, as I build inner strength, I feel a sense of control or stability. Then, by reducing my perception of the noise or chaos around me, I am ready to move toward the next step to the feeling of freedom. That step is to stand tall, own your own space and be true to yourself. In today’s world, it is easy to see negativity or speak with others in negative ways, but for me, that is not a satisfactory lifestyle. Not being pushed around or manipulated from within your own mind or from the actions and intentions of others is a powerful step. The feelings of intimidation, bullying, extortion, guilt or inadequacy can all be resisted as you learn to stand tall and build your inner strength.
“See me, Notice me!” I see these images as metaphors that illustrate these concepts. Notice the dominance of the subject in the image, as it seems to make its own statement. This collection isolates a subject while supporting it with the other elements within the image, maintaining clarity about what the subject is. For me, this isolation minimizes the feeling of discord, enabling a sense of calm. When viewing the image, I feel a sense of control, serenity, or stability. Notice the statement the subject conveys in the image by being isolated within it.
The subject of the photograph is not about being lonely or isolated. It is about the power, the grace, and the strength that come from standing tall, owning your space, being true to yourself, and being willing to survive. From that position, clarity comes from minimizing noise and chaos, using wisdom to learn from the past and see a way forward.
There may be times of stress or trial that can make us feel lonely, but we stand on the character of who we are and the power within ourselves that tells us and the world around us that we will survive. By finding inner calm in recognizing the power of self, we can sense the control, security, or stability within us.
These metaphors have come from observing and contemplating the world around us. May we all have the wisdom to see these metaphors and to help us understand the words of Richard Lovelace:
“Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage:”
2020