Nature Photography – Page 88

15 Stunning Examples of Tree Photography

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Trees are one of the primary focuses of landscape photography, and for good reason. They’re a crucial component of our natural world and in addition to being largely responsible for producing the air we breathe, and the homes that shield us from the elements, trees convey specific meanings when it comes to their artistic depictions.

The relationship between human beings and trees is a fascinating one, as we survive on the oxygen they produce and they survive on the carbon dioxide we produce. Many of us feel strong connections with trees and nature in general and as such, art lovers everywhere are drawn in by dynamic and mysterious images of trees. Not only does beautiful tree art add natural elements to a room and add warmth or cold (depending on color schemes), but they do so with intent. They often have deep and profound meaning to the people who collect and display them.

Let’s explore the reasons behind the popularity of trees, both as subject matter in nature and landscape photography and with art collectors themselves along with a dive into what trees symbolize in different forms of artistic expression. From there, I will take you on a visual journey through fifteen photographs of trees that truly capture the majesty of nature and present artistic symbolism without having to say a word.

Heavens Gate — The gnarled branches of a Japanese maple spread forth a flaming crown in a sculpted garden in Portland, Oregon. Beside a tranquil pond, the winding footpaths and soft beds of moss are scattered with the gold and crimson stars from this dazzling display. Fine Art Limited Edition of 100.

Symbolism & Meaning of Tree Photography

Depending on the type of tree depicted and the cultural influences of both the photographer and viewer, trees can represent different things depending on the viewer..

For example, the Norse saw trees as a symbol of connection between Earth and the nearby divine realms. One specific tree in Norse mythology, an ash named Yggdrasil, represented the entirety of the known universe to this culture. Yggdrasil was believed to connect all nine realms that Norse people believed to exist, thus tethering all of existence together.

Similarly, Ancient Jews examined the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge depicted in the scripture as representations of creation and the philosophy resulting from it.

Thousands of years ago in China, when the written and spoken language was new, the natural world influenced the development of vocabulary. The sturdiness and semi-permanent existence of a tree sheds light on why the word “willow” and the words “to stay” in Mandarin sound so similar. Additionally, the waving of wispy willow tree branches in the breeze was mentioned in Chinese poetry as a means to say goodbye.

Furthermore, in both the Eastern and Western worlds, trees can personify people and events that take place in human life. In China, fatherhood is often represented visually by Chinese Toon trees, while in western cultures, fathers are compared to oak trees.

In addition to the bright elements of life, trees can also represent the end of the cycle. Cypress and pine trees, for example, symbolized sorrow, grief, and death in Chinese literature.

The Tree of Life | Meaning & Symbolism

A popular and specific tree image that’s rooted itself into the art world, no pun intended, is the Tree of Life. This tree’s appearance differs somewhat from one culture to the next, but in general, the symbolism remains quite uniform.

Tree of Life images often portray a tree with far-reaching branches and spread out roots. In some of these images, the roots and branches come together to encircle the rest of the image. Images that portray similarly spread roots and branches create a mirror effect, which represents nature’s divine balance. Life comes into the world. It eats, it grows, it dies, and then it feeds the Earth to generate the next cycle.

Images that portray the roots and branches connected and weaved into a circle represent the interconnectivity of everything in nature. The existence of everything has an effect on everything else in terms of how we live, what we eat, and where our food and water come from. Nature’s web points to the idea that nothing exists alone, and what affects one community will affect every other in some way.

As an extension of the observations made about the natural world, the Tree of Life can also symbolize knowledge, a type of immortality, existence, family, enlightenment, peace, and strength. These variations are due to the fact that the Tree of Life is known in Judaism, Wicca, Paganism, Buddhism, and an array of other faiths and cultures.

Feelings — The brilliant foliage of an old maple appears almost pink in the depths of a chill autumn day in Sammamish, Washington. Hardwoods, like shadowy spirits, emerge mysteriously from the shroud of fog beyond. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

The Symbolism of Specific Trees

We’ve covered the tree of life, but to delve further into tree symbolism in photography, we need to explore the representations of specific species of trees. While trees in general symbolize elements of life and nature, certain trees (and bushes) have their own meanings.

Peace: Holly
Health: Wild Apple, Aloe Vera, Wild Pear
Love: Rosemary, Rose, Camellia
Friendship: Olive
Kindness: Grapevine
Fortune: Fig, Cherry, Juniper
Strength: Irish Oak
Happiness: Myrtle, Wild Plum
Protection: Hawthorne, Bay, Silver Birch

Several tree species carry more than one meaning. The Rowan Tree, for example, represents life and existence in general. The Myrtle mentioned above represents both joy and love. Oak, truffle, and hazel represent a combination of faith, courage, wisdom, and inspiration.

In addition, while Pagans of ancient times and today view trees in general as a representation of the natural world, yew trees held a special place in Pagan culture as a symbol of death and rebirth. Areas with copses of yew trees were considered sacred and Pagans routinely planted new yew trees in locations they planned to designate as hallowed ground for ceremonies, burials, and rituals.

15 Stunning Examples of Tree Photography

Now that we’ve taken an in-depth look at the influence of culture in tree symbolism, the meanings connected to famous tree symbols, and the ways certain tree types can carry with them their own unique meanings, you’re equipped to explore the symbolism present in tree photography with an informed eye.

Let’s explore fifteen dynamic and stunning photographs of trees. When looking upon these images, think about the meaning depicted in each shot. How do the trees captured affect the mood and overall message the photograph is attempting to convey? What does each mean to you?

SuperNova — Nebulas of scarlet stars erupt from the twisted branches of an old Japanese maple in a garden in Portland, Oregon. A brilliant flash of fire, the autumn boughs make the surrounding beds of moss seem almost to glow. Fine Art Limited Edition of 200.

Crimson Heights — Towering Aspen and Silver Birch trees intertwine to create a wall of autumn splendor on Last Dollar Road between Telluride and Ridgway in Colorado. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

Into The Silence — Lines of maples form the nave of a living church along a quiet country road near Snoqualmie, Washington. Traces of red and gold show here and there among the canopy, an early sign of fall on the way. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

Echoes Of Fall — A tangled web of skeletal branches lace together the ashen trunks of a grove of aspen near Leavenworth, Washington. Unfazed as yet by the chill of winter, the fiery hues of the autumn undergrowth bleed through a hush of fog. Fine Art Limited Edition of 100.

Prodigy — A young and fiery Lace Leaf Japanese Maple tree glows in all its autumn glory just inside the gates of the Portland Japanese Garden in Portland Oregon. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

On Golden Pond — Striking white aspen bark, backlit by the glow of the morning sun, reflects across the surface of a pond in Telluride Colorado. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

Seasons Flames — A flurry of amber sparks is scattered from the thin branches of a young maple in a Japanese garden in Seattle, Washington. Peering through the gilded veil, a secluded azure pool lies beyond. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

Lemon Lime — A dense stand of quaking aspen sits on the edge of a meadow near Leavenworth, Washington. A brilliant canary yellow spreads through the boughs–a sure sign of cooler weather to come. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

Crackle — Crimson stars dance in the boughs of a gnarled Japanese maple in Portland, Oregon. Beneath its blazing canopy, the old tree shelters its own garden of delicate ferns and emerald mosses. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

Walking With Giants — A rhododendron in bloom spreads its pink blossoms towards the veiled sunlight in the forests of far northern California. Through the diaphanous mist, a grove of coast redwoods stands guard over the lush and fecund gardens of undergrowth. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

Sweet Dreams — Golden light from the early morning sun illuminates a forest of beautiful aspen trees at the peak of autumn in Telluride, Colorado. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

Creamsicle Dreams — A delicate web of interlaced branches weave together an aspen grove in Washington State. Through the snow-dusted boughs, a few last flashes of gold announce the end of autumn. Fine Art Limited Edition of 100.

Brushed — A dense grove of aspen, suffused by a parade of bright gold and scarlet in the heart of winter is transformed by sudden motion. The fecund undergrowth becomes a raging brushfire snarling the grecian fantasy of floating columns like an animate miasma. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

The Rise — Fall aspens, like Grecian columns, reach towards transient puffs of cloud in a brilliant blue sky. When the days grow chill, groves of clonal aspen turn hillsides like this one near Aspen, Colorado into cascades of rippling gold. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

The crooked pride of a Monterey cypress braves the elements on a lonely promontory at Pebble Beach, California. A brief respite is offered by the calm evening, and pillows of pink cloud drift over the far mountains. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

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Jaya Hunn uses passion for plant and animal conservation to win 2022 Landcare Junior photography competition

A young boy looks closely at a flower through a camera lense.

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Jaya Hunn was at home sick when he learned his picture of a sundew plant had won a national photography competition hosted by Landcare Australia.

The 11-year-old Canberra boy’s passion for conservation and plant life was recognised for the image of the plant glistening with dew at Umbagong District Park in Canberra’s north.

It was one of two national winners in Landcare Junior’s “What’s in your backyard?” 2022 photography competition.

A carnivorous sundew plant in a pile of mulch. — “Sticky sundews” by Jaya Hunn won the 2022 Landcare Junior “What’s in your backyard?” photography competition.(Supplied: Jaya Hunn)

“[A sundew] is a carnivorous plant that traps flies and insects,” Jaya said.

“They smell the sweet smell of the tips of the tentacles, and when the flies land on them they get stuck there and digested by the plant.

“I like them because other plants tend to move not at all while carnivorous plants have some of the highest plant move speed of all the plants.”

He said it was very exciting to find out his photo had won the national prize and was a personal favourite of celebrity judge Costa Georgiadis, especially since Jaya hadn’t even set out to enter the contest.

“I’ve been doing some land care down the Umbagong Park with Landcare group and then I just took this photo of a sundew because we found out when we were weeding,” he said.

“Then when I heard about the competition, I decided to enter it.”

‘No conservation, no plants, no life’

Jaya’s mother Di Hunn said her family have always loved being in the garden, but their love of tending to the great outdoors really took off during COVID-19 lockdowns.

A young boy with a camera and a woman in a pink hat stand on wet river rocks. — Di Hunn says she and Jaya became more involved in local conservation during lockdown.(ABC News: Matt Roberts)

“With the lockdown, and the schools being shut in particularly, we were just so lucky to have this local reserve,” she said.

“We were really keen to start helping look after this lovely place, so we started going to Landcare.

“Rosemary, who leads it, has been so encouraging of Jaya. She was the one that suggested he started taking photos for the group.”

Di and Jaya got involved with the Umbagong Landcare Group in Latham and began learning more about their local plants and animals from other members.

Jaya took to discovering more about his natural surrounds and now he is passionate about conservation in Canberra and beyond.

“No conservation, no plants, no life,” he said.

“That’s basically the end for humankind so you have to keep every tiny bit of natural parks clean and safe, and that’s basically contributing to the life of all mankind.”

Nurturing the land ‘from the word go’

Jaya is hopeful the notoriety from winning the photography contest could help him do more for Landcare’s conservation effort.

“I want to maybe make a website, starting small and maybe ending up in protests to help nature survive,” he said.

“I want to take the national acknowledgement – a lot of people know me now – and try to make lots of people go into Landcare to make national parks and nature reserves a bit more beautiful.

“They’ve got rubbish all over them and the Landcare groups help to get rid of some of the rubbish.”

An older woman in a sun hat smiles. — Rosemary Blemmings says many young people are enthusiastic about nature conservation.(ABC News: Peter Lusted)

Rosemary Blemmings has volunteered with Landcare for about 30 years and said Jaya’s enthusiasm isn’t uncommon for someone his age.

“Young people have always been interested because they’re at a level where they can see these things,” she said.

“The trick of course is how to send over the message of how to treat other species.”

Rosemary said while more people have become more conscious of nature protection, the group’s work is far from done and could even use more pairs of hands.

“Just putting the suburbs in has done enormous damage to the habitats of animals and plants, and to the shape of the land,” she said.

“It’s important to have [land care groups] nurturing them right from the word go.”

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Recognising “exceptional design visionaries”, the IDA 2022 announce winners

With STIR as media partner, winners of the 16th International Design Awards (IDA) have been announced

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A group of like-minded designers, thinkers, and entrepreneurs created the International Design Awards (IDA) back in 2007, responding to a lack of recognition, and celebrating smart and sustainable multidisciplinary designs across the world. Now, a widely regarded platform recognising and promoting ‘exceptional design visionaries’, the design awards in its 16^th edition announced its winners across emerging talents in five coveted categories across disciplines of architecture, interior design, product design, graphic design and fashion design. The Farmani Group founded the IDA as the design sibling of the Annual Lucie Awards for photography, which has emerged as one of the world’s most prestigious photography awards.

Jill Grinda, VP of Marketing and Business Development for the IDA commented, “The IDA has always been about seeking out truly visionary designers showcasing creativity and innovation. We had a record number of entries in 2022 and the jury had an enormous task in selecting the winners from some truly outstanding design submissions.” With STIR as a media partner, the 2022 International Design Awards attracted thousands of outstanding design entries from almost 80 countries, contending for the top prizes. Members of the prestigious IDA jury, including Amit Gupta, Editor-in-Chief, STIR, Jason Wang, Secretary-General of Asia Pacific Design Center (APDC), and Basak Altan, IDSA West Coast Lead / Design Strategist, Design Educator, are delighted over the high standard of the submissions. “IDA draws attention to the iconoclasm of design worldwide: conceptualising and producing great work,” the organisers share.

Emerging Architect winner: 'Crassula' by Mahsa Mohebbi from Azad University, Iran | IDA Awards 2022 | STIRworld — Emerging Architect winner: ‘Crassula’ by Mahsa Mohebbi from Azad University, Iran Image: Courtesy of IDA

“We saw diverse and extraordinary submissions in this year’s entries across geographies, typologies and scale. The most successful designs appear to be those which apply creative thinking, crafting innovative and sustainable destinations to connect people with emotion, nature, and context,” said jury member Mark Blackwell, Creative Director, and Chartered Landscape Architect at Morphis. “Once again, the IDA awards have shown a new generation of incredibly creative talented candidates, as well as clear industry professional standouts. I love how these awards bring out the best,” noted Carly Vidal-Wallace, fashion curator, writer, and marketing strategist.

“The major challenge the earth faces is of environmental sustainability. Climate change, environmental pollution, waste production and deforestation threaten the sustainability of our global society. All architects and designers carry responsibilities for a resilient world. International Design Awards (IDA) encourages unique and creative projects those care for clean and green environment,” shared jury member Murat Soygenis, FAIA, Founding Partner and Professor, S+ ARCHITECTURE.

Emerging Interior Designer: 'Moncler Soho' by Sheng Wei Yang from New York School of Interior Design, USA | IDA Awards 2022 | STIRworld — Emerging Interior Designer: ‘Moncler Soho’ by Sheng Wei Yang from New York School of Interior Design, USA Image: Courtesy of IDA

Erik Behrens, Creative Director at AECOM relayed that “this year has demonstrated again that the IDA has truly become a destination for great creative work and the who’s who in the design industry. What makes judging the IDA special is the opportunity to discover fresh ideas from the best upcoming and established designers around the world and amplify them.” Another jury member, Annette Fisher, FA Global / Partner exclaimed—”It never ceases to amaze me, how the human mind has the ability to surprise and provoke the senses with creative design.”

Here is a look at the winning entries:

1. Architectural Design: ‘Shangyu Museum’ by Zhejiang Architectural Design and Research Institute

'Shangyu Museum' by Zhejiang Architectural Design and Research Institute, winner of the Architectural Design category | IDA Awards 2022 | STIRworld — ‘Shangyu Museum’ by Zhejiang Architectural Design and Research Institute, winner of the Architectural Design category Image: Wang Dachou

Led by designers Fang Fang and Yao Zhiyu, Zhejiang Architectural Design and Research Institute formulated a “simple and meaningful design language” for the ‘Shangyu Museum’ in Shangyu City, Zhejiang Province, China. “Its shape is like two superimposed squares, which show special tension after distortion,” the Chinese architects explained. The museum architecture’s lighting design adopts two treatment methods: “For the building body, we used the washing-type lighting to emphasise the (volume’s) mass and its transitionary relationship. For details, we used linear lamps to emphasise the detailed local structure,” the winners share.

2. Fashion Design: ‘INRECON/SOLARIS AW22’ by Jens Laugesen

'Shangyu Museum' by Zhejiang Architectural Design and Research Institute, winner of Architectural Design category | IDA Awards 2022 | STIRworld — ‘INRECON/SOLARIS AW22’ by Jens Laugesen, winner of the Fashion Design category Image: Jean-François Carly

For AW/22, London-based Danish fashion designer Jens Laugesen of GENERIC SENS LTD / JENS LAUGESEN DESIGN STUDIO developed his signature ‘hybrid design’ vocabulary, which originates from his fascination with the concept of utopian, unisex clothing. “By re-appropriating iconic generic garments such as oversize men’s jackets and shirts by slicing and cutting seams, (the) garments obtain new gender utility and movement with organic folds that adapt to the body underneath,” said Laugesen, known for his conceptual approach to fashion, and for being an exponent of conceptual luxury with the eponymous brand that was part of London Fashion Week from 2002-08.

3. Graphic Design: ‘Limburgs Museum – Van ós. For everybody’ by Total Design

'Limburgs Museum – Van ós. For everybody' by Total Design, winner of the Graphic Design category | IDA Awards 2022 | STIRworld — ‘Limburgs Museum – Van ós. For everybody’ by Total Design, winner of the Graphic Design category Image: Courtesy of Total Design

The talented graphic designers behind ‘Van ós’ relays its meaning in the Limburg dialect— ‘from us’. “And that is what the Limburg Museum is: a reaching out, a connection, a sharing of experiences. For everybody inside and outside Limburg. Together with this ambitious museum in Venlo, (we) developed a particularly outspoken positioning, branding and communication,” said Edwin van Praet of Total Design. “Interaction with the socio-cultural context is central to the new brand, and the museum always invites people with stories that inspire. But how do you capture the promise of change and development? Behold the movement of the Meuse through the Limburg landscape. A movement that touches people, enthuses them, and makes them look at their world with new eyes,” he added.

Jury member Jonathan Cleveland, Principal of Cleveland Design said—“I was especially impressed with some of the student work and seeing it makes me excited about the future of graphic design! Print, illustration, and web designs were tough to choose from with so much of the work being excellent—well thought out and executed.”

4. Interior Design: ‘Emerald Bay’ by Dina Marciano Design

'Emerald Bay' by Dina Marciano Design, winner of the Interior Design category | IDA Awards 2022 | STIRworld — ‘Emerald Bay’ by Dina Marciano Design, winner of the Interior Design category Image: Alex Kroke and Peter Christiansen

Chasing simplicity in a profound, timeless yet futuristic way, the interiors of this Laguna Beach residence in California, USA, was a completely sustainable and eco-friendly remodelling, where the inclusion of natural light and architectural elements become “expressions of tranquil art, physically impacting well-being.” “Inspired by nature and my client’s love for a healthy lifestyle, I wanted to create a sanctuary home where they feel comfortable in a toxic-free environment,” explains interior designer Dina Marciano, founder and principal of Dina Marciano Design, a full-service interior and commercial residential design firm.

5. Product Design: ‘MC2’ by OXOS

'MC2' by OXOS, winner of the Product Design category | IDA Awards 2022 | STIRworld — ‘MC2’ by OXOS, winner of the Product Design category Image: Courtesy of OXOS

“OXOS® Medical puts the first ‘faster, safer, and smarter’ dynamic digital radiography (DDR) in the palm of your hands,” relays Luke Pfost, lead designer, OXOS. Ergonomically designed, the ‘MC2’ mobile DDR, clinicians will be able to see the motion of the anatomy at the point-of-care. Working toward FDA-clearance, the product design is indicated for static and dynamic x-ray imaging in adults and children. “MC2 will capture static and dynamic x-ray images of any anatomy from the shoulder to the fingers and the hips to the toes and generate high quality images with a low radiation profile that promotes safety for clinicians and patients,” Pfost adds.

Emerging Fashion Designer: ‘Spiritual Shift’ by Sheetol Chawla from Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand Image: Courtesy of IDA

Emerging Graphic Designer: ‘Desired’ by Joslynn Taylor from Utah Valley University, USA Image: Courtesy of IDA

Emerging Product Designer: ‘ATLAS’ by Shuaicheng (Drake) Dong from Artcenter College of Design, USA Image: Courtesy of IDA

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16 Most photo-worthy spots in Boise!

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Whether there is sun or snow, the city is a fantastic refuge for outdoor enthusiasts yearning for city conveniences. During the summer, Boise’s proximity to nature allows residents to enjoy activities such as floating down the Boise River or hiking in the mountains. Winter activities are merely a 15-minute drive away on the Bogus Basin slopes during the winter months.

In Boise you will find some beautiful attractions that you just cannot miss! Places like Snake River Valley, Julia Davis Park, and Taco Bell Arena and many more. Continue reading to know more.

Boise

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Boise

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Valley of the Snake River AVA is an American wine region covering a south-west portion.

The Snake River joins Hells Canyon north of Boise, a steep, scenic, rapid-strewn gorge that slices through Idaho’s and Oregon’s Salmon River Mountains and Blue Mountains. The river exits Hells Canyon and heads west, flowing through eastern Washington’s Palouse Hills. The Snake River flows from Wyoming into southern Idaho before turning north toward the Idaho-Oregon boundary. After that, the river crosses Washington and flows west to the Columbia River.

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Julia Davis Park is a municipal park, known as the first park in the

This municipal park was established in 1907 with a donation to the land by Thomas Jefferson Davis. It was part of what was then envisioned that the plaza will become part of the competition of designs on its centennial celebration. The new square is located in a center of the park along the Mallway between the Zoo Boise and rose garden. It has a bronze medallion of 4″ diameter with a seed and root marking the start of Boise City and the park.

Taco Bell Arena is now recently named as Extra Mile Arena and it is located in the campus of Boise State University.

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Taco Bell Arena is now recently named as Extra Mile Arena and it is located in the campus of Boise State University.

It has gone through several name changes. From BSU Pavilion to Taco Bell Arena and now it is known by the name ExtraMile Arena. BSU’s multi-purpose indoor arena is located on the east end of the Idaho campus. Concerts and other activities are held at the stadium.

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A lovely historic Spanish-style building worth seeing, that is the Boise Depot.

The Boise Depot houses the famed Platt Gardens and is maintained by the Boise Parks and Recreation Department as a public ceremonial or gathering place and historic site. It was once a train station in Boise, Idaho, in the western United States. On the west wall is the original 1925 Barkalow Brothers Newsstand. The newsstand has been lightly repaired but is otherwise unaltered.

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Literally get a breath of fresh air while watching Shakespeare’s plays.

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is a must-see event for those who love a healthy dose of classic theater while enjoying the outdoors. Many historians say this is how 16th century playwright William Shakespeare wanted his plays to be enjoyed. Grab your friends and family as you explore the heroism and tragedy of Shakespeare’s characters while you enjoy having a picnic. For those who love their theater hip and more relatable, some of the plays in this festival feature a modern twist. Once you run out of food, a nearby restaurant is available for your convenience. Drop by around June to September and see for yourself how Shakespearean classics look better under the sunlight.

Boise State University, home to the Broncos, holds an enviable position with regards to its sporting events.

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Boise State University, home to the Broncos, holds an enviable position with regards to its sporting events.

Home to state-of-the-art unique athletic facilities, Boise State also houses a spectacular recreation center. This center includes the renowned Bronco Stadium, with its iconic blue turf. Their list of renowned sporting teams include everything from basketball and football to women’s gymnastics and cross country.

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Learn to respect human rights at The Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial.

A memorial inspired by the faith in humanity is the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial in Boise, Idaho. A statue of Anne Frank in life-size is standing in the center was cast by the sculptor Greg Stone. Regular education programs on human rights are organized in the park besides the park is also used for marches, rallies and protests.

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Enjoy Boise and hop aboard a replica open-air trolley car – The Boise Trolley Tours.

This 75-minute tour is entirely narrated and includes downtown Boise history, Warmsprings Rd, Hyde Park, and the East End. Jump in and join the Original Boise Trolley Tour which is not only great for tourist but for locals as well who wants to introduce to kids or learn more about Boise, Idaho.

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Albertsons Stadium is the official stadium of Boise State University in Idaho.

Those interested in watching an exciting match of college football should drop by at the Albertsons Stadium in Idaho. It is located at the heart of Boise State University and serves as the official home field of Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference.

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Boise Greenbelt is a beloved public park that features a 25 mile tree lined pathway.

Boise Greenbelt in Boise is a well loved park that features a 25 mile pathway line with towering trees. The park also offers scenic views and beautiful scenery perfect for visitors who love nature. It also offers easy to the city’s popular riverside parks.

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Boise Art Museum is known for showcasing unique ceramics and contemporary art.

Boise Art Museum is located in Boise and contains different exhibits of contemporary art and ceramics. It also has amazing galleries where people can marvel at different paintings. Its building is also surrounded by nice greenery and towering trees that is perfect for relaxing after a day at the museum.

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Visit one of the top attractions in Idaho, the Basque Museum and Cultural Center.

Basque Museum and Cultural Center gives a glimpse into the heritage of Basque communities of Idaho and surrounding areas. It aims to preserve, promote and perpetuate Basque History and Culture. Through this museum, guests would be able to learn more about Basque history and culture and appreciate it more.

Idaho State Capitol houses the Idaho government and located in the middle of the city skylines.

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Idaho State Capitol houses the Idaho government and located in the middle of the city skylines.

Idaho State Capitol, located in Boise, is the home of the government of Idaho. It is known for having a dome rising more than 200 feet high into the skies. Many visit the building not only due to its beautiful architecture and design but also for its rich history of legislation.

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From 1872 to 1973, the Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site served as a working jail.

The old Idaho Penitentiary began as a single-cell building in 1870, when Idaho was still a State. Residents were put to work quarrying local stone and planning and designing new structures to enlarge the penitentiary over the years. The penitentiary gradually expanded from a single-cell prison to 15 buildings holding over 600 prisoners. After two major protests over living conditions in 1973, the inmates were transferred and the jail was closed. The penitentiary was added to the National Register of Historic Places the same year.

Memorial Stadium is a famous stadium in Boise where exciting and heart pumping baseball games.

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Memorial Stadium is a famous stadium in Boise where exciting and heart pumping baseball games.

Visitors who want to watch an exciting match of baseball should visit the Memorial Stadium. The stadium, located in Boise, is known to be the home field of Boise Hawks of the Independent Pioneer League. Visitors would definitely have a pleasant time in the stadium as its facilities are constantly improved.

Century Link Arena has been the headquarters of the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL since 1997, having opened 24 years ago.

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Century Link Arena has been the headquarters of the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL since 1997, having opened 24 years ago.

Idaho Central Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Boise, Idaho, in the western United States. CenturyLink Arena is right in the center of downtown Boise, just minutes away from shopping, restaurants, and other local businesses. CenturyLink Arena is the Northwest’s most innovative indoor sporting and entertainment venue. CenturyLink Arena is conveniently located in the center of downtown Boise.

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Letters: Tory bill is not ‘anti-strike’. Sturgeon should be backing it

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SHOULD the interests of the few override the interests of the many? That seems to be the knee-jerk reaction of Nicola Sturgeon from her statement which you quote as your main headline today (“PM fuelling pay disputes with anti-strike laws, says Sturgeon”, The Herald, January 13).

To anyone who cares to read it, the bill provides that in the essential services it lists, no more than those persons reasonably necessary to provide a minimum service level will do so. The holding of any strike itself is not banned or somehow adversely affected, so why misrepresent it as “anti-strike” other than to fuel her grievance obsession with anything which comes out of Westminster?

Surely in her role as First Minister she has the responsibility to do all she can to ensure the availability of essential services for those who really need them whenever they need to access them?

Alan Fitzpatrick, Dunlop.

NURSES ISSUE EASY TO RESOLVE

IN addition to the Tories’ characteristic meanness of spirit, you have to add economic ignorance. According to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, no money is available to meet an additional pay offer to nurses. However, money is readily available for failing pension funds, failing banks and failing energy companies.

The nurses’ pay demands could easily be settled in full at no cost to the Treasury. For a start, about 40 per cent of any pay increase comes straight back in additional tax and National Insurance contributions. Then when the nurses spend their increase the recipients are taxed on what they receive, as will the next net recipient, with ever-growing returns to the Government; a stimulus to the economy and a boost to the NHS.

John Moreland, Killearn.

TAKE STEPS TO AXE POVERTY WAGES

THE latest wheeze from Rishi Sunak is to encourage people to enter the labour force by allowing them to retain certain benefits even when in full-time work. This would allow employers to keep them on poverty wages, subsidised by other taxpayers in the same way as so many other poverty-wage earners whose pay is below the tax threshold.

Why not eliminate poverty wages and progressively remove tax bands and personal allowances so that all earned income is taxed at a flat rate in the same way as expenditure and we can all have “broad shoulders”?

Unionist parties are united in denial that the prime cause of labour shortages in key industries is Brexit. Peter A Russell (Letters, January 13) tells us that, as a democrat, he reluctantly accepts the referendum result that took us out of the EU. He clearly does not recognise the existence of our Sottish nation which voted overwhelmingly against Brexit. We are on a path towards a future redolent of pre-revolution Russia with a ruling class and a servile peasant class.

Willie Maclean, Milngavie.

LET REFUGEES HELP CARE HOMES

HUMZA Yousaf’s proposal to alleviate the bed blocking crisis (“Extra £8m for care beds to ease winter crisis in NHS”, The Herald, January 11) is facing the difficulty of attracting enough staff because of the low wages on offer.

However, the Scottish Government could make a proposal to the Home Office to take on and train up refugees to fill the vacancies in some of Scotland’s care homes.

I’m sure most refugees would be glad to have a worthwhile job earning a wage (low though it is) rather than staying trapped for ages in the failed Home Office system while their asylum applications are being processed.

It would be a win-win situation for the Scottish Government.

If the proposal were accepted by the UK Government, there would be a workforce to fill the vacancies in care homes and alleviate the bed blocking. If the Westminster Tories were to refuse, it would be clear to everyone that they prioritise their xenophobia concerning refugees over the needs of old people and the NHS.

John Dennis, Dumfries.

PUT MONEY INTO CARERS’ WAGES

IT is indeed good news that the Scottish Government is going to finance the provision of so many care home places to ensure that patients who are medically fit for discharge from hospital can be safely accommodated in a care home.

Two questions come immediately to mind. First, where are all these empty care home beds? And secondly, where are the staff to give the special care and attention that vulnerable people will undoubtedly require?

Sadly, I feel sure that as long as care workers are paid the minimum wage of £9.50 an hour there will continue to be a severe shortage of people prepared to work for such shockingly low rates. Why would anyone want to work for that kind of return when a job as a checkout assistant would pay considerably more?

The millions the Government is promising to put into social care would be better spent in insuring a decent wage for an increasingly important job. Then we might get the numbers of carers we need to cater for our ever-expanding elderly population.

Celia Judge, Ayr.

THIRD OPTION ON HEALTHCARE

THE First Minister states that she has “never” used private healthcare. I wonder if she includes dentistry in her definition of healthcare; many do not, which helps explain meek acceptance of two-tier dentistry. The First Minister’s denial would be more convincing if accompanied by the phrase “and I never shall”. An eloquent omission; also bold because nobody knows what will be their future state of health – but the conclusion is guaranteed.

The First Minister has the third option in what is really a three-tier service; that is those with connections and influence can use NHS resources without queuing and without charge. This third option is superior to private healthcare, which is expensive. Now we wait to discover who will own up to using the third option. If nobody owns up, that does not mean that such events did not occur.

Politicians have connections and influence, as do others.

Dr William Durward, Bearsden.

EXEMPLARY CARE FROM OUR NHS

I AM 67 and for the past 35 years, I have been on the receiving end of our NHS for various reasons – more than my fair share, I am sure. My treatments on the whole have been exemplary, and I have so often counted my blessings that I live in a country where we have an NHS free at the point of need. In November I had an ankle replacement operation at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, again excellent treatment, but unfortunately I developed a wound infection. I personally took the initiative and contacted our community district nurses based in Callander, and I cannot rate highly enough the excellent professional care I received from them. GP home visits appear to be a thing from my past which no longer happen – but for the past nine weeks, the exemplary service provided to me in my own home by local nurses from Killin, Crianlarich, Callander and Strathyre has more than filled that void.

I would love to think that in years to come, people, regardless of their financial means, will be able to receive as much quality care as I have. Good health is a life essential, and our governments need to wake up, appreciate the dedication of our National Health Service employees, and pay nurses, carers and ambulance personnel a decent wage rather than take advantage of their vocation.

Linda FitzGerald, Killin, Perthshire.

SMALL CUTS THAT HIT HARD

ABOUT 15 years ago I was involved in trying to save our county hospital. I was assured that the bed capacity was surplus to requirements even allowing for a projected increasingly-aged population and for seasonal demands.

Likewise, the change of use of a single room on a ward for administration would not impact on bed usage remaining below the recommended 85 per cent. I wonder what a Freedom of Information inquiry would reveal across the country regarding the number of beds lost through closing small local hospitals and re-allocating single bed units to administration?

James Watson, Dunbar.

A graduation ceremony at Edinburgh University. Are Scots from less deprived areas in danger of missing out?

UNIVERSITY STANCE IS A DISGRACE

IT was with incredulity that I read about the issues raised at First Minister’s Questions around Scottish university entrance places (“Sturgeon shock at claim on students from deprived backgrounds”, The Herald, January 13). The First Minister felt it was “good news” that Edinburgh University accepted no students from non-deprived areas from Scotland across nine courses including the prestigious law degree course.

What an utterly shameful comment from the First Minster, who seems perfectly happy that, in effect, she is supportive of “negative” discrimination against a certain section of Scottish pupils. The university too should be ashamed as it endeavours to hide behind the fact of trying to “narrow the eduction gap”. In reality, the university wants students from overseas and the rest of the UK who will stump up around £25,000 per annum for the privilege of attending the university.

The First Minster and her disastrous oversight of Scottish education is driving Scottish students south of the Border as a result of no tuition fees in Scotland for Scottish students and consequently far fewer places at Scottish universities. Her policy is reprehensible and those students who have been affected would do well to remember this at the ballot box.

Richard Allison, Edinburgh.

SHOP TALK

I WAS surprised and delighted to see your photo of the RG Lawrie shop (“Remember when…”, The Herald, January 12) as it’s a subject very close to my heart. This was my family business with my father, Arthur Lawrie, grandson of RG Lawrie, managing director of the shops in Glasgow and the bagpipe factory in Castlemilk when I was growing up.

However, your photo is not the original shop in Renfield Street, but it is the other one in Buchanan Street.

Sadly, the business is no more but Lawrie bagpipes are still held in high regard by pipers worldwide.

Fiona Love (née Lawrie), Eaglesham.

PICTURE OF HAPPINESS

I COULDN’T have asked for a better start to my day (February 13). As always, I headed to the centre pages of the Herald. There I saw another masterpiece of nature photography from reader Jacki Gordon and your cartoonist Steven Camley in top form with his latest cartoon. Set me up nicely before going on to read the doomsayers on the Letters Pages.

Gordon Evans, Glasgow.

Read more: What will happen now to the poor souls on care home waiting lists?

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Breakthrough CRISPR Technology Study Published in Nature | News

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ST. LOUIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan 13, 2023–

A groundbreaking research study by a team that included scientists from Benson Hill, Inc. (NYSE: BHIL, the “Company” or “Benson Hill”), has been published this month in Nature, the world’s leading multidisciplinary journal, highlighting a new mechanism for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology. The research paper, titled “Cas12a2 elicits abortive infection via RNA-triggered destruction of dsDNA,” discusses the discovery of a new enzymatic capability for CRISPR systems, opening the possibility of using CRISPR in new applications beyond gene editing – including cancer therapeutics, programmable shaping of microbial communities, and counterselection to enhance gene editing.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230113005450/en/

A groundbreaking research study by a team that included scientists from Benson Hill, Inc., has been published this month in Nature, the world’s leading multidisciplinary journal, highlighting a new mechanism for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology. (Photo: Business Wire)

As part of its work to unlock the genetic diversity of plants, Benson Hill’s team collaborated with members of its Scientific Advisory Board, including university scientists from the U.S. and Germany, to uncover insights and solve a complex biological problem for how CRISPR enzymes work. In doing so, they discovered the underlying biology and a new mechanism for how CRISPR nucleases, specifically Cas12a2, can function. The study concludes that Cas12a2 holds substantial potential for CRISPR technologies as a biotechnological tool.

In a proof-of-principle demonstration, the research team showed that a specific amino acid sequence (SuCas12a2) can be repurposed for RNA detection and potentially expand and enhance the CRISPR-based toolkit. More specifically, the study notes that RNA targeted CRISPR activity could enable programmable killing of multiple cell types.

“At Benson Hill we recognize that it will take an entire community of innovators to solve the challenges of today. This is a great example of us partnering with the broader scientific community to better understand CRISPR technologies,” said Gina Neumann, Senior Scientific Manager, Research and Development at Benson Hill. “It truly takes a diversity of thought and approaches to unlock biology. I’m glad we could partner with fantastic academic collaborators to characterize this new enzymatic capability and lay a foundation for future innovative applications.”

From the early days of Benson Hill, the company has taken a bold approach to learning how genetic diversity can solve problems and create new technologies.

In November 2022 Benson Hill formally endorsed the Framework for Responsible Use of Gene Editing in Agriculture. For Benson Hill, the precision of advanced breeding techniques like gene editing unlocks the opportunity to improve diverse crops and focus on benefits like taste, nutrition, and sustainability to leverage the full power of plants and deliver better food choices to consumers.

The full study can be found online on Nature.com and in the Jan. 4 issue. Please refer to the Nature portfolio for the full study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05559-3.

About Benson Hill

Benson Hill moves food forward with the CropOS ® platform, a cutting-edge food innovation engine that combines data science and machine learning with biology and genetics. Benson Hill empowers innovators to unlock nature’s genetic diversity from plant to plate, with the purpose of creating nutritious, great-tasting food and ingredient options that are both widely accessible and sustainable. More information can be found at bensonhill.com or on Twitter at @bensonhillinc.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230113005450/en/

CONTACT: Benson Hill

Christi Dixon

636.359.0797

[email protected]

Media Kit

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA MISSOURI

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FOOD/BEVERAGE RETAIL OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOOD TECH RESEARCH OTHER POLICY ISSUES FINANCE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES GENETICS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT BIOTECHNOLOGY AGRICULTURE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY NATURAL RESOURCES HEALTH ENERGY

SOURCE: Benson Hill, Inc.

PUB: 01/13/2023 05:00 PM/DISC: 01/13/2023 05:03 PM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230113005450/en

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Finding beauty in the bleakness of January

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Chris Hardie
| Wisconsin State Farmer

It’s always with a mixture of sadness and hope when we move past the holiday season and face the bleakness of January.

Hope because we face the new year with resolutions and optimism that allows us a fresh start to accomplish personal and professional goals. Sadness because the joy of the holidays that passed by in an eye’s blink gets packed away in boxes for another year. It’s a reminder to me that time passes too quickly.

But when the pine needles are swept and the last tinsel is collected, we turn the calendar and settle in for the long haul of winter. Even though it’s only been here a few weeks, it’s been a challenging winter so far. Fluctuating temperatures have given us several storms of rain and snow and lots of ice.

One recent morning as I was starting another round of snow removal, I stopped for a picture. The new snow had painted the house and the farm buildings a fresh white coat and there was a world of texture and contrast that I wanted to capture.

As I pulled out my ubiquitous phone and grabbed a few shots, I wondered what the scene would look like in black and white.

In my college days at UW-La Crosse as a mass communications student, I took a photography course. There were no digital cameras and our class focused on mastering black and white shots – we loaded film canisters, learned to roll unprocessed 35 mm film onto reels, processed the film and then made prints. Even my camera was completely manual.

Today we pull out our phones, take many photos and instantly see them, tone them, send them or share them in a matter of seconds. Photutorial.com says there are 54,400 photos taken every second, 196 million per hour, 4.7 billion per day, 32.9 billion per week, 143 billion per month, and 1.72 trillion per year.

I would spend hours in the darkroom trying to process one print, using different contrasts of photo paper and manipulating the light and shadow.

My class instructor was Ed Bardill and he was old school. Ed was influenced by Ansel Adams and attended some of his workshops in the late 1970s. Adams is known for his spectacular black-and-white nature photography. Ed was a big proponent of the zone system of image-making practiced by Adams and also by other renowned photographers like John Sexton and Cole Weston whom Ed conducted workshops with.

My recollection is that I may have earned a B in Ed’s class, as my focus – pun intended – was on writing. My portfolio was certainly not great, but I had a few decent shots. And that dark room experience was essential when I worked as a weekly newspaper editor and had to handle many of the photo duties.

Ed retired in 1988 and after he died in 2001, his family created a scholarship at UW-L in his honor. I hadn’t thought of Ed for years, but after running my farm photo through a few filters, he came to mind when I liked the black-and-white version. I shared it on social media and based on the positive comments and reactions, others like it too.

We live in a colorful world and its kaleidoscope in both nature and in people makes it special. But some days after a hectic schedule or dealing with life’s challenges, my mood is better captured with a little black and white and its many shades of gray.

So I’ll embrace the solemnity of winter and its monochromatic white landscape. There’s a beauty in the starkness which feeds quiet contemplation of the soul.

Then I will be ready for the vibrant colors of spring.

Chris Hardie spent more than 30 years as a reporter, editor and publisher. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and won dozens of state and national journalism awards. He is a former president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. Contact him at [email protected].

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This desert oasis is a time capsule of Egypt’s grand past

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Thousands of years before dams on the Nile kept the crocodiles at bay, the Fayoum Oasis was the center of worship of the ancient Egyptian crocodile god, Sobek. On a map of Egypt, the 2,300-square-mile region resembles a broad leaf emerging from the lush borders of the upper Nile River. Today, it offers a peaceful, green escape from the gridlocked traffic and dusty high rises of Cairo, just an hour’s drive north.

Kept verdant by Lake Qarun, Fayoum feels like a throwback to another era. In thriving fields, water buffalo graze and egrets nest. Residents get around its small villages via donkey carts, tuk-tuks, or on horseback.

But for travelers, Fayoum surprises with its archaeological sites, lively contemporary pottery scene, and sweeping desert plains, including Wadi Al-Hitan, a valley littered with the fossils of ancient whales.

As Egypt gears up for a flood of new visitors with the soon-to-open Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, this best-kept-secret weekend getaway from the city is ripe for discovery.

Little known ancient marvels

“People who love archaeology come here, but it’s off the beaten track,” says Egyptologist, tour guide, and blogger Mahmoud Kamel as we venture into the ruins of a temple at Karanis, a Greco-Roman-era settlement at the entry to the oasis. I’ve booked him for the day to show me some of the dozens of ancient sites around the region. Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Coptic Christians all made their marks in Fayoum, building temples, tombs, and monasteries.

In Pharaonic times, Fayoum was a center of papyrus farming and game hunting. Kings and queens vacationed on Lake Qarun, arriving by boat via canals linked to the Nile River. The conquering Romans established settlements here starting around 27 B.C. until the Muslims came to power in the seventh century A.D. Under the caliphate, the oasis reverted to agrarianism.

(Egypt is one of our 25 best places to visit in 2023. See the full list here.)

Amid the shifting sands at Karanis, Kamel shows me a stone doorway topped by a 2,000-year-old dedication from Roman Emperor Nero to Sobek. Inside, there’s an altar flanked by niches that once held mummified crocodiles laid on sleds. In the first century A.D., people left the revered creatures offerings of wine or meat and paraded their mummies through town during festivals.

Aside from portions of the temple, little remains of the mudbrick Karanis village that thrived here from the third century B.C. until the fifth century A.D. In the 1920s, the town’s 5,000-year-old buildings were disassembled and ground into fertilizer by an Italian company.

Other sites around Fayoum are better preserved, like the second century B.C. Medinet Madi ruins in the southwest part of the oasis. “This site is called the Luxor of Fayoum,” Kamel says, evoking the city in Upper Egypt that holds many of ancient Egypt’s most dramatic sites.

In Medinet Madi, a colonnade lined with lion and sphinx statues cuts through the desert to the only remaining temple built by Pharaohs Amenemhat III and Amenemhat IV during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom (2040 to 1782 B.C.). Though weathered by time and sun, finely carved hieroglyphics cover its doorways and walls, praising Sobek and Renenutet, the snake-headed harvest goddess.

Missing mummy paintings

Kamel is acutely aware of what the region has already lost to time, nature, and treasure hunters.

The loss of Fayoum’s famed mummy paintings particularly chafes. These realistic portraits were painted on boards and attached to the faces of upper-class mummies in Roman Egypt, between the first and third centuries A.D.

Some 700 of these strikingly lifelike paintings were uncovered in and around Fayoum beginning in the late 19th century. But nearly all of them were smuggled, sold, or traded outside the country. Today, only two of the portraits remain in Egypt, both at the dusty two-room Kom Ushim museum in Karanis.

(Here are the new—and ancient—reasons to visit Egypt now.)

“The Metropolitan Museum of Art has so many of these [portraits],” says Kamel, showing me a mummy laid in a glass case. It’s small and wrapped in dressings that have browned and hardened over the years, a dramatic contrast to the finely painted portrait affixed to its face. It depicts a young man with wide-set eyes and curly black hair. Compared to earlier mummy masks, with their lined eyes and blue and gold helmets, these likenesses seem more haunting and vivid.

There may be more of these faces hidden in the sands; a recent dig near Gerza village uncovered not only a jumbo, 2,300-year-old Greco-Roman funerary temple but also several exquisite mummy portraits.

An acclaimed pottery village

Ancient funeral portraits may have put Fayoum on the international map, but contemporary pottery draws travelers today. At the northwestern corner of the oasis, the sleepy farming village of Tunis was transformed into an artistic hub by Swiss potter Evelyne Porret in the 1980s. She built a home and studio here, eventually opening a pottery school that trained generations of Egyptian artists. Even the town’s architecture began to mimic the domed ceilings and rounded doorways of Porret’s school.

Forty years after Porret’s arrival, her students’ workshops line the main drag, renamed Evelyne Street after her death in 2021. The whimsical glazed pottery style she pioneered features hand-painted dancing goats, soaring birds, and waving palm trees inspired by the nature of the oasis. Visitors can buy pottery directly from workshops or from stores such as To a Skylark Gallery, which also stocks local photography and paintings.

(Learn how Mexican artisans create “pottery of the night.”)

Tourists arrive in Fayoum by bus from Cairo or hire guides, like Kamel, to ferry them here and show them around. Besides ancient sites and shopping, they increasingly find restaurants and lodging in Tunis.

Well-heeled Cairenes and expats frequent the Lazib Inn, a terraced boutique hotel near the waterfront. At dinnertime, traditional dishes like stuffed pigeon are served by candlelight as a musician plays the mournful-sounding oud, a bulbous Middle Eastern guitar.

Kamel sees low-impact, sustainable travel as Fayoum’s future; a way to bring more visitors to discover the region’s riches without transforming it into a stop on the big-bus tour circuit that bombards archaeologically rich Upper Egypt.

“Fayoum,” he says, “is fragile.” And though his tour is peppered with stories of loss and destruction, fresh archaeological finds and the ceramic scene in Tunis suggest the area may be poised for another rebirth.

Nina Strochlic is a staff writer at National Geographic. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

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Cornwall Library features photography by Prud’homme

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CORNWALL — The Cornwall Library presents artist Sarah Prud’homme’s new series, Inhuman Time, a meditation on stones collected from the New England coast, opening with a reception Jan. 21.

According to a statement: Prud’homme’s stones were created over 400 million years ago, when volcanic magma was propelled to the earth’s surface. Mostly basalt, they have high concentrations of magnesium, iron, and calcium, which gives them a rich black hue. As they cooled and were shaped by ocean wave action they became smooth and round, which captivated the artist’s eye.

In making these photographs, Prud’homme used a digital camera to capture twenty to fifty images of each stone, which she layered in Photoshop to reveal what normally escapes our gaze. While this technique was developed out of necessity — to overcome the medium format camera’s shallow depth of field — Prud’homme embraced it and used it to enlarge the stones to many times their actual size. These images examine a stone’s surface from its center to its outer edges, resulting in a hyperfocused composition that appears both flat and three-dimensional. This highlights the fact that photography creates its own reality rather than simply documenting fact.

Inhuman Time includes stones of various shapes and hues, each of which reflects their point of origin. In her images, Prud’homme removes single stones from a crowded beach and examines them closely, which individualizes and monumentalizes them. The stones’ smooth roundness and blackness against an infinity of white reveals their ineffable, immanent qualities. In her grid of a dozen oval stones, Prud’homme emphasizes the similarities and subtle differences between each example. The stones’ seemingly identical shapes cause the eye to compare and contrast them, and encourages viewers to become active observers. The grid is in the art historical tradition of “typologies,” exemplified by the work of minimalist artists such as Karl Blossfeldt and Bernd and Hilla Becher.

With Inhuman Time, Prud’homme hopes the viewer will discover something about beauty/art/science/math/nature/reality/truth. Or at least reflect on the fact that humans and stones are composed of the same minerals, that the universe is interconnected, and that our survival depends on this awareness.

Prud’homme lives in Brooklyn, NY, and spends as much time as she can at her family’s house in Cornwall, she said. She has an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. Her thesis was a series of cubes mounted with abstract photos of the human body that was included in “Somatogenics,” a show curated by Cindy Sherman, Sarah Charlesworth, and Laurie Simmons at Artists Space. Prud’homme’s work has appeared at Brooklyn Cottage, and in several group shows in New York.

Inhuman Time, Photographs by Sarah Prud’homme, runs from Jan. 21 to March 4, with an artist’s reception from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 21. The public is welcome; registration is required. Go to cornwalllibrary.org/events/

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The New Centre for British Photography in London Is the First Space Dedicated Entirely to U.K. Artists Working in the Medium

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Photography aficionados will need extra stamina to explore the seven exhibitions across three floors at the opening of the Centre for British Photography in central London on January 26.

The 8,000-square-foot new space on Jermyn Street will house the Hyman Collection—the private collection of Claire and James Hyman, widely considered one of the world’s major libraries of British photography. Over 3,000 significant works by more than 100 artists—such as Bill Brandt, Cecil Beaton, and Martin Parr—since 1900 are included. Until now, it was only available to view online.

Bill Brandt, David Hockney (1980). Courtesy of the Centre for British Photography, London.

The center will give a historical overview of British photography and—importantly—present the diverse landscape of British photography as it exists today. “There is no venue specifically dedicated to artists working in photography in Britain,” Founding Director James Hyman told Artnet News.

“While institutions such as Tate and the V&A have extraordinary, encyclopedic collections, they are not devoted to photography, or to British photography,” he continued. “We have one of the most substantial collections of British photography, which we wish to make more public.”

Natasha Caruana, Fairy Tale for Sale (2011-2013). Courtesy of the Centre for British Photography, London.

The new center, Hyman said, is “committed to presenting a diverse view of photographic practice in Britain,” which the opening program embodies. One of the major opening shows takes its name from Bill Brandt’s seminal publication of 1935, The English at Home, presenting over 150 works that explore the central place of the home in 20th-century British photography.

In “powerful contrast” to this is the group show “Headstrong.” Curated by Fast Forward—a research group designed to promote and engage with women and non-binary people in photography across the globe—the show will focus on recent self-portraits by women working in photography.

Trish Morrissey, Pretty Ogre (2011), part of “Headstrong. Courtesy of the Centre for British Photography, London.

“This exhibition foregrounds artists and photographers who have been using self-portraiture as a tool to crack open the oppressive, often punishing nature of patriarchy,” explained Anna Fox, Director of Fast Forward. “From exposing cyberbullies to exploring the multiplicity of female identity, these portraits reinvent outdated concepts of how we should behave, how we should be, and what we can become.”

The center will also reopen with three solo exhibitions by Heather Agyepong, Jo Spence, and Natasha Caruana. “Each show is different but, by putting these artists together—each of whom uses theater and performance—connections can be drawn,” Hyman said to Artnet News.

The new center is for anyone with an interest in photography—amateur or professional. It will be free to visit year round, and will present self-generated exhibitions, shows led by independent curators and organizations, as well as monographic displays, events, and talks. “We hope visitors will get a sense of the incredible range and diversity of historical as well as contemporary photography in Britain,” added Hyman.

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