Series - FotoSlovo 2026 - Category « Mobile Photography »

Ginkgo! Long revered as a symbol of resilience, longevity, and wisdom, the Ginkgo tree’s ability to persist and survive extremely adverse conditions, including the bombing of Hiroshima, inspires me to believe in self-renewal even in the face of personal tragedy.

These images—which all feature ginkgo leaves—are part of my series of photographs dedicated to my son, who drowned in 2020, and to all those who’ve lost a loved one. By naming each image for a departed individual, I celebrate them and keep that person’s memory alive with a tangible tribute.

With this memorializing project I bring together my long-time fascination with layers, abstraction, ambiguity and the natural world, as well as my experience studying and practicing Chinese Brush Painting.

Working with floral material (mostly from my garden), I digitally layer photographs, (which sometimes include alternative process images I’ve created from cyanotypes, anthotypes, and lumens), to create a composite image printed on semi-translucent vellum. I then apply the gold or silver-toned metallic leaf gilding to the back of the vellum which shines through the light areas of the image and creates a shimmering effect like that of sacred art. Finally the images are varnished on both sides to enhance their brilliance and ensure their longevity.

Making this work—an exploration of love, loss and letting go— has been healing for me and is meant to help heal others.