ARTIST STATEMENT: The San Diego River runs fifty-two miles down from the mountains in the county’s backcountry, through the outskirts of the city, and finally emptying into the sea. It has a rich history, but over the years it has been hidden and corralled and largely made inaccessible. To capture the beauty of this river I have been making photographs along its banks for the last two years. This series of images was taken at a little-known area of the San Diego River where it empties into Kumeyaay Lake. During late autumn the cottonwoods, willows and sycamores that grace its banks drop their leaves into the river creating carpets on the waters. I discovered this place by chance and felt that I had stumbled upon a hidden treasure. I was drawn to the quiet stillness of the sheltering branches, the small beauties of the fallen leaves and the warmth of the light and air. The atmosphere here is quiet and sheltered, almost secret, a place a child would delight in - a peaceful, hidden place of dreams – a fable whose meaning is waiting to be unlocked. I am a fine-art contemplative photographer and have lived in San Diego all my life. I love images that evoke the timelessness of the landscapes around us, images that help us center ourselves and come home to the mystery of existence.
"Hidden Place"Hidden Place, 2021
