Sharon Brogan

Bio

I am a poet who takes pictures. Language, not image, is my natural medium.

Much of my language is imagistic. Once I had a digital camera in my hand, and images I could capture and shape like words, I was, myself, captured. The camera, blogging, and flickr changed my life. A life flattened by illness acquired a new kind of depth; new dimensions.

As I look at my photos to prepare this statement, I see that I tend to do small things, close-ups, and animals who sit still long enough for an amateur with a slow-shutter camera to snap. Close-ups are partly the consequence of living within somewhat narrow boundaries; partly a function of the camera, which takes nice macros; and partly an expression of my own temperament, which tends to look closely.

Since I must photograph the same things, again and again, my challenge is to see it new. Occasionally I succeed. More often I do not, but, as with writing, everything serves as compost. Words and images go into the pile, ferment awhile, and sometimes help something new emerge, strong and striking. With luck and attention I find something fresh.

But I confess to enjoying the snapshots, too -- and to sometimes not knowing the difference.

Testimonial

It is a verbal standard: a picture is worth a thousand words; but sbpoet's work, interwoven with lyrical poetry, proves the reverse is true as well.

Sparse and beautiful, this work offers a glimpse into the natural world as it intermingles with the human one. The moss set is not to be missed.

Testimonial written by Siobhan Connally