Analog Forever Magazine is pleased to showcase 44 images in this month’s online exhibition, entitled “Connecting to the Divine,” curated by the founder of Vision Quest Photo Workshops and publisher of Shots Magazine, Douglas Beasley!

Douglas had this to say about this month’s exhibition: To jury, i.e. ‘judge’, a collection of photos that express the image makers’ connection to the divine is quite possibly a contradiction of terms. So personal and yet bravely publicly exposed for consumption when shared. How can anyone jury something so individually revealing? Yes, we can look at how well the images seemingly address the theme itself, how effective they are at communicating that theme, how well executed both technically and artistically- all so subjective! The images I chose to represent this theme manage to address these criteria, and then most importantly- go beyond expectations into the artistic realm of personal exploration, introspection, and self-expression, sometimes simple and sometimes complex. The best venture beyond mere visual tropes of religious iconography into the realm of a perceived personal relationship to the sacred.

My personal favorite of so many excellent submissions, by photographer Caitriona Dunnett, is a mysterious ethereal landscape with no known (to me) point of reference. It leads me on a journey, seemingly following a path into the unknown, not quite concrete, and not quite abstract. I think the fact that I am allowed on the artist’s journey is part of why I found it so appealing. It is one of many wonderful and excellent images, each that delighted me in unexpected ways. I live, visually, for just this type of journey. Thank you for allowing me to tag along on this long, strange trip.

I hope that in viewing these images you get the same sense that I do, that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

~ Douglas Beasley

GALLERY 

About the Curator

Douglas Beasley’s personal vision explores the spiritual aspects of people and place. His photography is concerned with how spirit is recognized and expressed in everyday life. Doug is a very dedicated teacher who believes that creativity and vision are more important than equipment choices.

Exhibited and published extensively internationally, with several published books, he is also the founder of Vision Quest Photo Workshops and publisher of Shots Magazine, an international B&W fine-art photography quarterly from reader submissions on a theme.

Personal heroes include the Dalai Lama, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and whoever invented the espresso machine.

His website is douglasbeasley.com.