Thanks to a recent post on Jim M. Goldstein’s Blog, I think I have discovered a new artist to admire - or rather an older artist that I should have discovered a long time ago. Eliot Porter is most known for his nature photography as he was one of the photographers that helped to introduce color film to the world of nature photography from the 1940’s through the 1970s. Apparently, he became widely known in the science world as his photographs were widely recognized in the conservation movement. I’ll be honest, I have only barely scratched the surface of his life and his works, and I don’t know much about him yet. But I have to thank Mr. Goldstein for introducing me to Porter’s work. As I honestly feel that there’s a lot to be learned from past photographic works, this is one artist that I shouldn’t have overlooked in my initial photographic education.

If you are interested in reading more, Jim Goldstein wrote an interesting article, titled “The Subtlety of Greatness and Today’s Loss of Appreciation“.  His article deals mostly in how people so easily overlook the skill of the classic artists, such as Porter, who really pushed the envelope of technology at the time.   His article is definitely worth a read.  There is also a short biography over at the Getty Center’s web site.  and of course, we can’t forget Porter’s Wikipedia Entry.

This is a young Shagbark Hickory that I found in Connecticut early in the spring.  Even at a young age, this tree’s characteristic bark is incredibly appealing.

This sculpture is the heart and focus of this section of the formal gardens at Temple University Ambler Arboretum.  This is the shade garden, and it’s a peaceful place for students to study (though only the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture students even know it exists).  When I went to school here, these trees were just planted.  While they may not seem very large, they’ve grown at least two more inches in caliper (diameter of the trunk) and added at least ten feet to their height.

Camassia quamash, commonly known as Wild Hyacinth, is great in part shade.  This particular specimen is in the formal gardens at Temple University Ambler Arboretum.