Why

Most of us need to know on a daily basis that we are not only appreciated for who we are, but that someone or some company or family cares about us, even if only sporadically. The link to a "matrix" seems to be archetypal and necessary for our health. It doesn't have to be a person, it could be an animal -- a pet or passing wildlife -- that makes eye contact or some other acknowledgement of our existence.

Beyond that, the next level of connection is a search for meaning, for fulfillment. We like to feel that our life is unique, that we  make someone else's life happy, or that we help move the world forward in some way. On all levels -- spiritually, financially, socially, This ambition to improve ourselves and the lives of those we know seems to be part of the fabric of our humanity.

I have found this common desire everywhere I have been lucky enough to travel. I see it in the eyes of poor people in India, and well-to-do people in first world countries. Recognizing this commonality can break down barriers, and egos. When times get stressful or threatening, there is always the option to try and connect with someone on this deeper level.

Photography has been my wedge into this universal. When not shooting on a job or assignment, I am often "pulled" into a photographic situation because of the beauty of a person or scene, but almost always I end up valuing the experience more than the making or hanging of the image. The obsession for more images and interaction with the world is beyond addiction;  both drive me constantly, with the additional hope each time  of coming one step closer to that elusive "dragon's tail" -- figuring out what gives us meaning, and why. 

Henry David Thoreau spent two years living in the woods by himself at Walden Pond to "live deliberately...and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived".  He found meaning in his life by living close to nature, away from social "distractions". Others find their meaning in the midst of social distractions. And others find it through animals and spiritual rituals.

I hope you find these images relevant in some way to your own life. I encourage and appreciate any comments or feedback you may have.

Ron Levy