I’ve been reading Josef Koudelka Next: A Visual Biography by Melissa Harris. I think there is a great deal to learn from Koudelka, but I have some misgivings about this book. For one thing, it is a bit gossipy, at least about the film photography world of the 1970s. For another, I think the book design is execrable. You can’t really see the Koudelka photos because they are reproduced basically in postage-stamp size. The subtitle of the book is, after all, “A Visual Biography”. I think that the word “visual” does not mean what the creators of this book think that it means. Koudelka is credited ..read more

This is the time of year when my garden starts to come alive. Each day brings delight and new surprises, from the flocks of freesias and iris in the front garden to the poppies and anemones that are just starting to bloom. Flowers from Our Garden © Harold Davis My job is to be true to myself, and also speak truth to flower: meaning, to the best of my ability I try to render the essence of the flower, what makes it so special, and describe its beacon of beauty in a way that can be shared. One Poppy © Harold Davis From one day to the next I begin on the journey of floral interpretation. Sometime ..read more

When and where: November 6-19, 2024; the adventure begins in Osaka and ends in Kyoto, Japan. Group Size: This is an exclusive, small photo workshop (non-photographer significant others are also welcome) with very limited space availability. The minimum group size is six and the maximum is twelve. © Harold Davis Details: Click here for the Prospectus and Itinerary, and here for the Reservation Form. Description: Highlights of this absolutely unique photographic journey—designed by photographers for photographers—start with night photography in the heart of Osaka. From there, we will journey to ..read more

Well, flowers are magical. So is nature, and so are people. Of course, with light comes darkness, and without the contrast we would not grasp the magic of the moment in its entirety. Flower Magic © Harold Davis   ..read more

Following an appointment at the eye doctor with the usual ocular poking and prodding, I came home inspired to create another composite image based on the photo of my eye! Eye of the Artist © Harold Davis ..read more

Here are two more Photoshop composites (I call these “Impossible Images”) based on the photo of my left eye! Aye Tondo © Harold DavisApt Pupil © Harold Davis ..read more

In December 2023, with Mathew home from college, we engaged portrait photographer Nan Phelps to make a family photo of the six of us. Nan worked the old-fashioned way: with film and a medium format camera.  I’m pleased with the results, because I think they represent us as we are, not in an idealized and retouched way. Spending the time and resources on this kind of portraiture is, I believe, a gift to our future selves because we are together now, but in the future may not be. Davis Family (front porch)Davis Family (garden ..read more

In honor of the quickly approaching Year of the Dragon, and since I am a “golden Dragon,” I thought it would be fun and appropriate to post some of my images of dragons. New Year’s Dragon on Black © Harold Davis Click here to read about New Year’s Dragon. Dawn of the Dragon © Harold Davis Click here to read about Dawn of the Dragon. Dragon of the Redwoods © Harold Davis Click here to read about Dragon of the Redwoods. Temple Dragon © Harold Davis Click here to read about Temple Dragon. This image was on the cover of my book about accomplishing one’s goals in photography, Achieving Your Potenti ..read more

I was walking north from the Oculus in downtown Manhattan along West Broadway. Back in the day, when I lived and worked out of my studio at 18th Street and Broadway, this area of Soho was home to many high-end art galleries. Today, this “best use”of the art gallery real estate has migrated to west Chelsea near the High Line, and “best use” of street level in Soho seems to be brands like Gucci. Eye (I) Spy © Harold Davis Along side the fashionista stores on West Broadway I saw the Eye Origin storefront, which offers to photograph your eye, and turn it into “art”. I opted to have my eyes photogr ..read more

Rhapsody in Tulip is my last 2023 image in the Artfully Random series. As I look back, this image speaks to me with its sense of color and rhythm: a paean to the wonders to be found in so many flowers and gardens. Rhapsody in Tulip © Harold Davis Note that the red and purple tulips are resting on a bed of peonies that are partially dried. So one could think of this image as a paean to peonies, or at least peonies as a foil to tulips!   ..read more