Nature's Pencil: Inspiration: Freeman Patterson
Ten years after finding Freeman Patterson's
book Photography for the Joy of it, I still often return to it for
inspiration. Patterson teaches that there is beauty to be seen and a fine
photograph to be found in
Patterson was brought up in rural Canada and developed the habit of hard work from his chores on the family farm. From his mother he learned to appreciate uncontrived beauty, and to love nature. He studied Theology and Philosophy, and for a while was a College lecturer, but eventually he risked everything on making the grade as a photographer. His break came when his work was spotted and he was commissioned to provide photographs for a pictorial journal of Canada.
He now has many successful books to his credit, and teaches photography in Canada and in Africa
His pictures have a minimalist, quality, sometimes almost abstract, as in this group of trees: