Norm is Dull

The norm lavishes in opulence and tranquility, making it difficult to willingly seek out challenging creative endeavors.

In fact, it is so dull, pacifying, lulling, stupefying, stagnating to someone’s mind, creativity, original thinking and perspective on reality at large, that it can become highly dangerous, even potentially fatal to our ability to make a difference by challenging the “status quo,” the very heavenly sanctuary and retreat within which norm lavishes in unsurpassed opulence and tranquility, which so many of us find so irresistible as to willingly seek it out and then submissively succumb to its deadly might.

In my own journey through life, I was fortunate to grow up as a child of plentiful comfort and predictable future. But then, totally unexpectedly, all this stability dissipated away and suddenly my life derailed from the predictable and anticipated path of norm. This happened not just once, but numerous times since. In fact, it happened so often that it makes me believe that the resulting instability is the very way I was destined to travel. That in turn caused me to anticipate the un-expectable and learn to adapt no matter what startling obstacles unfolded or unexpectedly emerged in my passageway through this reality of mine. Its not for everybody, but for me it caused me to remain aware, focused, observant, open-minded, adoptable and prepared for the unanticipated.

Over the years, I found myself driven to discover as many facets of the world’s reality as possible. Thus, I journey through it like a nomad, a proverbial Wandering Jew, and I do not mean a flower. In fact, I am not too shy to admit that at times it stinks. Yet, as wiser men than I have repeatedly said, “Every coin has two sides,” or “Every stick has two ends.” So I understood that without black there would be no white, without contrasts life becomes monotonous, stultifying and lackluster.

Exciting discoveries and challenging encounters around the world, of contrast and contradiction, opened my eyes while expanding my mind. Gut wrenching disappointments and multifaceted losses caused me to seek out outlets for not merely sharing my experiences and resulting feelings with others -- writing this blog, and many others before it, have not just enabled me to express myself but proved to be soothing and healing while enormously satisfying, not always but most often...

With every passing year my artwork is becoming more and more essential, in fact indispensable, to my ability to reflect on, distill and eventually creatively express my doubts, hopes, aspirations, ideas, visions, pains, disappointments, internal dramas and turmoils, for there have been many.

Over the recent years, my unrelenting pursuit for imaginative and distinctive means of expression has unexpectedly turned me on to photography. Considering its visually realistic character I found myself surprised by this choice. Challenged by my desire to overcome its realistic qualities, while wishing to take advantage of its inescapable truism, such resulting precisely from its very realism, I persisted in exploring it further. I became determined to seek out a way for turning it against its realism and instead use it to express my inner emotions, thoughts, pains, reflections and myself.

Thus, in striving to shift from photography as a reflection of realism, trees, which I biked by daily, simply as objects by the side of the road, one day became characters reaching out to me in their desire for connection. Unexpectedly, it felt to me as if they were sharing with me their inner feelings, relationships and even traumas, none of it much different from our own. Or maybe, they became an emotional mirror of my inner self? No matter which, this became a revelation to me.

By the simple deed of my stopping to look deeply and intensely at them, they appeared to reach back, hungry for such attention and connection. At last, after endless years, someone chose to pay attention to their seemingly mundane and indistinguishable existence. And the longer I observed, the clearer and more potent the sensation of them revealing to me their inner selves became. Each photograph perceived their experience of life, captured by me simply acting as their very own extension, their messenger to the world dismissively revolving all around them. I do realize how such a claim may sound arrogant, pretentious, even potentially insane. Yet, this could not be further from the truth.

This occurrence inspired my yearning for a deeper exploration of photography, not as a reflection of what we see but what we feel, not an actuality as seen by our eyes but instead the inner truths.

Moreover, as a believer in what I refer to as a “gravity free and reality independent” creative process I myself embrace, and mentor in, when striving for truly original ideation and visualization, whether it applies to art, design or media, I found myself determined to apply this attitude to photography and do so without resorting to special effects, any kind of editing, manipulation or post-production. I soon realized that this is quite a challenge, given that a camera captures real images as they are, and therefore escaping this true reality, without employing one of many post-production methods.

I discovered that panoramic photography does not merely capture images of spaces as stills but in fact as movement in space as well as time. In other words, it does not seize them as a frozen still pictorial record, or a reflection of the photographer’s determined choosing, but rather as a visual progression of his evolving discerning permitted by the chosen camera motion while the image is being apprehended, from its very beginning to the very end. As a result, the camera turns into a brush with which the photographer is capable of painting his interpretation of reality in front or around him.

All this happened during my recent tour of Ireland, a world of breathtaking masterpieces created by Nature in its timeless pursuit of perfection, but also of spiritual creations erected by humans for whatever reason, motivation or objective, may they be glorification of their beliefs, or themselves.

But enough of words, after all, especially in this particular instance, when images can be so much more consequential and illustrative of the concepts and ideas I have been attempting to express above. Hence, let the ensuing photographs speak for themselves. Your reader’s reactions are welcome.

In the ensuing series of photographs, I shall begin each portrayed subject seen in an anticipated view and then follow by a more creative or imaginative approach that alters norm into disbelieve. Furthermore, to reinforce ways the latter mutates or breaks away from reality, I follow with further alternating perspectives or way of capturing the same subject, landscape, environment or space.

This represents, what I refer to as, the predictable perspective on the section of the whole space.

The same initial view of the space seen above, including its direct environment but now severely expanded by extending it to seeing the entire cathedral, from the initial wall to the very other end.

The same view as the one immediately above but further extended, vividly magnifying the space

Here is another cathedral, view of the main altar surrounded by the immediate space and ceiling.

And yet again, the same altar by vastly expanded all the way to the main entrance to this church. Giving the image shows both ends of the space, turns half of it upside down, thus altering reality.

This is the same cathedral but with camera exploring it horizontally instead of vertically. This too captures both the altar and the entrance but the sense of space and its drama are very different.

While this is capturing the same view as the one immediately above, but the other path around, it, at least to me, transforms a singular space into one that is much richer and also multidimensional. This interpretation makes the environment more multifaceted as well as emotionally surreptitious.

Ireland unveils sundry of Nature’s masterful creations. Stunning as they already are, they pose a weighty test to seizing their breathtaking expanse. Wonderful as is, above photo goes only so far.

Here is the same view but expanded considerably in endeavor to reflect expanse of this location. Yet despite of this attempt, it remains rather realistic and what I call “gravity & reality dependent”.

Now, the above image begins to reflect and project the depth, height or vastness of this scenery.

While normally I avoid including people in my photographs, above they act as a perfect reference for highlighting the majesty of the Nature’s creative powers, as well as minuteness and seeming insignificance of us humans. Yet we represent the ultimate danger to the future of such sceneries.

Now, through panoramic camera motion, the above image does capture the “gravity free & reality independent” impossible. In doing so, while reflecting reality it breaks away its rules and confines.

The above extents even further by capturing both the top and bottom of the world simultaneously.

Back to norm and reality as is. Above is the predictable view of the remnants from ancient church.

Here is the same view but dramatically expanded to include the furthest end of the former church. This not just augments scope of the space but, in one and same image reveals its expanse, while provoking observer's deeper consideration and questioning, which after all is always an objective.

Another perspective, this time unveiling the horizontal span of the environment. Yet, to me, it also injects sense of mysteriously multifaceted complexity and architectural artistry of the construction. It motivates me to consider how such perspectives can inspire theatrical or operatic stage design.

I already debated this amazing scenery. Now, I wish to expand on creative possibilities it inspires.

The same view with a astonishing twist, both to the scenery but also to what we refer to as reality.

An even greater twist makes the landscape even more mysterious, provocative and unbelievable.

Moreover, it would seem that this very magical panorama stretches and raps all around the Earth.

And the above ultimate rotation, without any tricks or post effects, creates a vortex engulfing it all.

Another ruin of human creation from the distant past, seen as an appealing yet predictable scene.

The same location, yet captured as a panoramic expansion reveals breath of the structure’s story.

The same scenery captured via a vertical camera motion transforms the same reality into illusory.

Another remarkable cathedral, a masterpiece of creation contrived to take follower’s breath away.

The same space expanded by an imaginative exploration of the breath and expanse of the whole. Looking at it instantly brings Escher’s four-dimensional staircase to mind. While such rendering of reality seems implausible, given architectural advances made since, erection of such a formation, whether for theatrical or film scene or best for an actual mind-blowing building design would seem plausible. Imagine entering such a multidimensional location, it instantly taking your breath away! A cathedral like this would embody a justly irresistible miracle, and a homage to human ingenuity. Maybe even an atheist like I could become a devoted believer in the might of human imagination?

Purely for contrast, or contradiction, a horizontal rendition of the same environment. Such wowing interior designs are definitely realistic yet I have not seen any. Is it because we do not challenge ourselves appropriately or because we do not dare, or are we too timid to let our imagination fly?

Back to Nature for some inspiration, for its untamable and stealthy forces will forever mystify me.

My preliminary experimentation produces some deviation from the reality but is far from startling.

Taking off by inciting myself, and my iphone, to probe the impossible leads to steering dynamism.

Diving deeper leads to entirely unexpected aftermath twisting and turning the world upside down. This striking image fluidly yet irrefutably juxtapositions unmindful reality with steering impossibility.

This is my conclusive return to human creation. Above initial image represents a liable normality. It is striking to me is how much it is impoverished by not revealing the splendor of its surrounding.

Here it is. A multitude of startling stain-glass portals to tales of distant pasts and alleged creation.

Then, expanded even further, this amazing portal opens up revealing a stunning space and time.

The same cathedral with camera pointed at the center window. Interior architecture is impressive.
Yet as I have been stating, despite its beauty, the normalcy of it is restraining the true experience.

And so, it is the panoramic perspective that is able to unveil the true majesty and splendor of it all.
The intense view of the various spaces is truly inspiring and the slight tilts inject sense of mystery.

Yet nothing surpasses the sweep of the entire space. The fact that such turns half of it upside down adds to the breathtaking depth and breadth of the entirety while injecting magic of the impossible. To me this turns the truth upside down, make me question what reality is? After all, this is a photo just as much as are those that simply point and shot. Neither resort to tricks or alterations and yet the outcomes are so dramatically divergent, even contradictory! One seizes a singular moment of reality in time, without questioning it or putting it in its predestined context. The other expands on the very same reality while seeking to explore it in the context of time and space. This I truly find inspiring and provoking to my imagination. After all, Norm is boring, predictable and dulling to our creativity, imagination, hunger to dare “gravity free & reality independent” promises of impossible.

And since I am fired up, from the same cathedral, the culminating confront between two realities.

The same gorgeous altar but in the context of the entirety of the whole spatial reality and breadth. To me its puts to shame the previous perspective, yet without it we would be missing the contrast.