Pyre

I was sitting at a fire I had started at a family home, out back. We burn wood and leaves all year round. The heat was so intense I had to back away several times.

For some reason, I started taking photos.

I didn't know what was going to come out of them. I had no intention of printing them. I thought I'd keep them — a remembrance of that day alone with my thoughts.

When I finally began to really look at them, images started coming out at me. You never intentionally take a photo with a plan, at least I don't. I see abstracts, versions of things — the way you see shapes in fire, clouds, or old drawings. Each one telling some kind of story from beyond.

When I saw faces and forms in these flames, I was excited. It was something I wanted to share — to see if someone else saw what I saw. Some see the same things. Others see something completely different. That was even more exciting.

So here you are. Take a look. See if something speaks to you.

Looking at these photos takes me somewhere between calm and exhilarated — the same feeling I get watching the ocean or a heavy snowfall.

These are the first three in a series of ten.

I hope you like them.