Beauty is my deepest and most enduring love, a secret and sacred passion. It is the force that animates my body and the lens through which I perceive order, coherence and majesty in the world around me. I hear it in music that lifts my soul, in art that inspires me, in the face of my beloved, and above all in the natural world. Taking photos is a way of sharing the beauty I see. 

I was recently given the book The Invisible Embrace of Beauty: Rediscovering The True Sources of Compassion, Serenity and Hope by Irish poet John O’Donahue. His words point to truths I’ve always known, but never been able to put in words. Reading O’Donahue’s reflections on Beauty gave me a new understanding of myself and a greater awareness of the myriad forms in which it appears.

If you’re a photographer, artist or musician who has a bit of a spiritual bent this is a book you might really enjoy. Here are some samples of his writing and my photos.