Abandoned Places
In my travels throughout the Southwest, I've become fascinated by abandoned structures of all kinds. Although some may consider them ugly and decrepit, I see beauty and humanity in each one. My interest is not from an historical perspective, but rather from a human one. Some structures are run down and gutted. Others were abandoned "as is," with vehicles out front, curtains in the windows, and appliances and furniture intact. I wonder what circumstances and personal agonies led inhabitants and business owners to leave behind that which was so lovingly built, stocked and - for a time - maintained.
As I continue this project, I find that these structures speak to me. I seek an individual perspective for each, and the structures themselves set up my shots. I imagine their histories in my mind and, as such, they live on.
Birds
Includes cranes, herons, raptors, bluebirds and more - all birds except hummingbirds.
Birds - Hummingbirds
Closeup photos of those winged jewels that so fascinate all who are fortunate enough to observe them in gardens and at nectar feeders. My images are all wild and free hummingbirds in natural light.
Black-and-White Botanicals
These classic, sophisticated images highlight the simple but beautiful lines of nature's most gentle creations. I photograph my botanicals in place and unstaged in their natural environment to capture the spontaneous moment.
Black-and-White Scenics
I photograph my black-and-white scenics in the classic, fine art style. These finely detailed images illuminate the atmospheric elements of a scene and capture the spirit of the moment in these wild and rural places.
Bosque del Apache NWR
One of my "soul places," the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a jewel set on the Rio Grande near San Antonio, New Mexico. Tens-of-thousands of geese, ducks, and cranes winter here and provide birders, naturalists and photographers with one of nature's greatest spectacles. Successful photography here requires lots of time spent in the field and lots of patience, along with a "feel" for the birds and their habits.
Butterflies, Dragonflies & Flowers
Nature's gems surround us - we only need to look. Butterflies and flowers with their brilliant colors, and the delicate beauty of damselflies, enrich our lives in small but delightful ways.
Color Scenics
I generally eschew the obvious and over-photographed, and instead focus on subjects and angles that others might pass by. I often focus on the sky, nature's impressionistic canvas across which she splashes a seemingly impossible array of colors and patterns. My challenge as an artist is to interpret and preserve a moment at which the combination of light, color and pattern creates the perfect image.
Details
These images focus on the often overlooked details that surround us everyday. Some are ordinary, and some quite extraordinary, but I captured each image with intention. A fluid adobe wall, ripples in the sand, a shrine, a sign - all have an angle and a moment to present simple yet compelling beauty.
Southwest Windows
The beautiful simplicity of adobe and wood, bright jewel colors, a reflection in the glass - all of these elements make windows throughout the Southwest an artistic focal point. Light and composition are key in these understated, close-up images. Captured without peripheral distractions, they highlight the subtle artistry of their makers.
Bird Drawings
These drawings were all created for use in various bird- and birding-related publications. Most are pen and ink, with a few rendered in pencil and charcoal. All drawings are available for one-time use.
© Gail D. Yovanovich