Artist Statement:
There is a profound joy in standing alone in a vast, open landscape—where the warmth of the sun, the whisper of the wind, and the stillness of the earth create a space of peace and belonging. In these quiet moments, I feel deeply connected to the land and the passage of time etched into its rock formations, shaped by centuries of erosion and the deliberate shifts of the earth. The Alabama Hills, with their classic rugged beauty, become both sanctuary and mirror—reflecting the stillness within me and the ever-changing nature of existence.
My black and white landscape images capture more than the passage of time—they reflect my existence and joy in being present within that time. The rock piles stand as silent witnesses to history, grounding me in the present while reminding me of the endless transformation of the landscape. Circles and dots within my work represent the joy I experience when immersed in these spaces. They emerge from my cyanotypes and lumen prints, created in desert spaces with plants collected from the surrounding land I photograph. The act of making these sun prints—where light imprints the shapes and textures of desert flora—forms a physical and emotional connection to the environment. It is a twofold expression: the joy of witnessing the raw beauty of the landscape and the joy of creating art within it.
The colors and forms of my lumens are infused with the essence of my spirit—expressions of joy, wonder, and reverence. Through layers of light and time, my images are both a celebration of nature’s resilience and an intimate response to the beauty of solitude. My work is not only a visual record of the landscape’s natural evolution but also a personal exploration of identity, connection, and the quiet offering of solace and clarity. In these sacred spaces, I find peace—not in isolation, but in communion with creation itself. In the vastness, I am small, yet profoundly part of something infinite.
Brandy J Sebastian
There is a profound joy in standing alone in a vast, open landscape—where the warmth of the sun, the whisper of the wind, and the stillness of the earth create a space of peace and belonging. In these quiet moments, I feel deeply connected to the land and the passage of time etched into its rock formations, shaped by centuries of erosion and the deliberate shifts of the earth. The Alabama Hills, with their classic rugged beauty, become both sanctuary and mirror—reflecting the stillness within me and the ever-changing nature of existence.
My black and white landscape images capture more than the passage of time—they reflect my existence and joy in being present within that time. The rock piles stand as silent witnesses to history, grounding me in the present while reminding me of the endless transformation of the landscape. Circles and dots within my work represent the joy I experience when immersed in these spaces. They emerge from my cyanotypes and lumen prints, created in desert spaces with plants collected from the surrounding land I photograph. The act of making these sun prints—where light imprints the shapes and textures of desert flora—forms a physical and emotional connection to the environment. It is a twofold expression: the joy of witnessing the raw beauty of the landscape and the joy of creating art within it.
The colors and forms of my lumens are infused with the essence of my spirit—expressions of joy, wonder, and reverence. Through layers of light and time, my images are both a celebration of nature’s resilience and an intimate response to the beauty of solitude. My work is not only a visual record of the landscape’s natural evolution but also a personal exploration of identity, connection, and the quiet offering of solace and clarity. In these sacred spaces, I find peace—not in isolation, but in communion with creation itself. In the vastness, I am small, yet profoundly part of something infinite.
Brandy J Sebastian
© The Photographer's Eye: A Creative Collective