Lightfall

Lightfall is a collection of over 170 photographs made by Ed E. Powell. Included are comments by Powell on making the photos, technical considerations, what he saw, what he felt, what he wanted to show, life, love, and the pursuit of photography. With those comments come pieces of the romantic, wry, and philosophical sides that are characteristic of Powell. Very likely, he simply couldn't help it. Even more likely, he didn't try to help it.

Powell doesn't tell us what his photographs mean. Like any other art form, meaning develops for each individual by inference of implication. Since neither inference nor implication is explicit, meaning lies within the eye and mind of the beholder. Art has meaning to people who bring a life well-lived to the work.

The photos in this book include landscapes, seascapes, urban views, close views, long views, wildlife and people life. Some are whimsical and some are thoughtful. Each of them is worthy of a close look. They are presented in mostly random order, so that each successive picture comes as a surprise.

Powell has judged photography contests at international and local levels. He evaluates a photograph as a synergistic sum of its parts, rather than as a checklist of rules. Although he enters contests himself and values the opinions of others, he makes photographs for himself, not for judges, not for hire. The resulting pictures are expressions of Powell, what he sees, and his response to what he sees.

Despite the personal nature of his pursuit, his photographs are for sharing. He enjoys satisfaction that his photographs connect with so many people. "After all," he says, "life must surely be for sharing. Otherwise, there would be only one of us."