Great Blue Heron
from Time and Quiet
(I call this
fellow "The Assassin.")
Although I think I've made it pretty clear that the Tony King photographs that most resonate with me are his simple, classic, black-and-white glimpses of life, it would not be fair to the man and his long and distinguished career to ignore the work that occupied almost the last third of his life. Tony was an environmentalist in the best sense of the word. Not a rabid tree-hugger, but one who believed the good and beautiful things in our world should be appreciated, and as much as possible, preserved.
For fourteen years, beginning in the 1970s, he created a
calendar featuring his black and white photographs that was sold throughout New England and beyond. "Making calendars became
part of my way of life. Trying to explain in pictures what a New
England year is like made me more observant, in a way, more alive
than I had been. I greeted each new month with curiosity and was challenged by
it to find a way to express its nature with just one image.
"Every chance I got I used to ramble around the
countryside. I was never looking for specific subjects but I was liable to
photograph anything . . . ordinary places and everyday objects were good enough
for me. I photographed what touched me, whatever stirred in me an admiring
response."
But slowly, things changed: "I noticed that few
places I revisited over the years had been improved in my absence. Fields were
planted with buildings, wetlands were turned into parking lots, and beaches
were strewn with unsavory debris. I began to worry about earth and water and
animals and children, mine and everyone else's.
"Without planning it I stopped roaming the
countryside in my happy-go-lucky way ready to photograph anything that charmed
me. . . I began photographic studies of the places that had meant most to me in
my early life, and I began to work mostly in color."
His emerging passion led ultimately to the publication, in
2001, of his Magnum Opus, the
beautifully photographed, designed, and printed Time and Quite, a large format, limited edition book made to the
highest standards. (I should also mention that all the photographs were made on film.)
I am very fortunate, I could even say blessed, to have a
copy that Tony gave me, signed and inscribed with his warmest wishes.
Male Red-Winged Blackbird
from Time and Quiet
But although Tony's focus and direction changed, his basic
philosophy remained the same: "The world is lovely and still marvelous and
my view of life is still positive. Everything about nature tells me life wants
to go on and I am dazzled by human potential. But we have, all of us have, work
to do. That work is to take care of that part of the world we have some
personal influence over -- our backyards, our neighborhoods and our work
places."
Time and Quiet may be ordered from Time andQuiet Press.
(Photographs copyright Judy and Tony King Foundation,
2020.)
Check out my prints for sale at my online gallery: https://davejenkins.pixels.com/ Looking is free, and, who knows? You might find something you like.
The second edition of my book, Backroads and Byways of Georgia will be released in June, 2023.
Text copyright 2023 David B.Jenkins.
I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.
Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.
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