I have been fortunate to travel the world, and see the grace, diversity and beauty of our magnificent planet. In a spirit of adventure, I immerse myself in the landscapes, cultures, and lives of its people. As moments pass through ever changing light, the object of my attention reveals itself. In this instant my emotional response converges to harness the magic with my love of nature.
When reviewing these images, all criteria lead to disclosing a story of realization. Then, the technical work begins. My process includes post production in Lightroom and Photoshop to improve fidelity. This allows me to resurrect that alluring feeling by liberating the embedded image for the viewer. Photos with layers of gray mist are arduous to print and require transformation for the initial vision to emerge with every test print cycle.
This awareness happened in the otherworldly landscapes of Iceland where it was cold, gray, dreary and rainy. I didn’t know how to shoot the scene and wondered if I could have any connection to this land.
Then I met an Icelandic horse. I stood in front of her as she looked straight into my eyes. I offered my hand and she did not move; I touched her face. She was present and gentle, yet strong and calm. At that moment everything changed for me. My spirit was touched, and I no longer saw gray. I saw the mystery of life in this majestic creature. She opened my eyes to the beauty of the wind, misty fog and this veiled impression of Iceland.
The arc of my work is discovering a poetic thread that connects these feelings and experiences that would otherwise be lost memories. To make sense of our mystic world, is to reveal a higher ethereal truth and to expand the edge of our understanding.
Finding these secrets leads to reflective self-discovery. I’ve gained an awareness of how small we are, yet how impactful we can be. An understanding that while this amazing world is not ours to own, it is indeed ours to experience, love, and protect.
My work with non-profit organizations gives me the opportunity to explore remarkable locations. This exhibition includes images from Iceland, Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet, Peru’s Machu Picchu and our own native land.
Contact:
Cheryl Stockton
cheryl@stockshotstudio.com
stockshotstudio.com
