The High Priestess

The High Priestess is an evolution of my project named Temples, started in 2008. Named after the tarot card, these photos are focused on intuition, the subconscious, and spirituality.

To create these images I attempt to quiet my conscious, discerning mind and allow my subconscious to compose the image. I fill the frame with the rock wall to remove easy identification of symbols or other forms with cultural meaning. This avoidance of an obvious horizon was inspired by the Arizona Landscapes of Frederick Sommer, in order to prevent the viewer from drawing conclusions from the familiar, thereby inviting the viewer to create their own horizons, symbolism, and ultimately their own meaning.

These images are meant to act much the way the Tarot does – as a mirror that reflects the meanings we project upon the images, thereby allowing us to see our own priorities and self-understanding.

To quote Frederick Sommer, “Life itself is not the reality. We are the ones who put life into the stones and pebbles.”