BOOK REVIEW: SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS

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Shadows & Reflections, By Lori Brookes, (Blurb Creative Publishing Service, 2010, 31 pages.)
Book Review by Dennis Moore

 

August 15, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- If ever a picture was worth a thousand words, San Diego author and photographer Lori Brookes’ book, Shadows & Reflections, says it all. Her compilation of pictures taken along the River Seine in Paris, sailing around San Francisco Bay, at Spanish Village in San Diego's Balboa Park, and atso many other locations provides a pictorial journey of intrinsic emotions and insight. She calls it a life philosophy through words, imagery and imagination. Her work is a bit of poetry and photography, with a smidgen of self-assessment.

 

She found her passion for photography, ironically, amid the ashes of the 2003 Cedar Fire.

 In 2004,  she toured Julian artist/architect James Hubbell’s compound, which was being rebuilt after the Cedar Fire.  There, Brookes came across an inspiring gift of nature. Looking out across the scorched landscape of blackened manzanita wood, she spotted a solitary sunflower beaming in the direction of the sun. "Breaking out in goose bumps, I knew that I was in the presence of an awe inspiring symbol of the cycle of life," she wrote. "I didn’t know it then, but this photo was to become the catalyst in the pursuit of my passion for photography and the newest leg in the journey of my life."

 

The photo, “After the Fires” won a photo contest and led to a showing of her in a Phoenix gallery. Since then she has held several one-woman photography shows and launched a professional photography business that features photojournalism-style portraiture, weddings, and portfolio photography for architects, interior and landscape designers. Her work has been published in San Diego Home & Garden, Life After 50 and Sunset Magazine Online.

 

Brookes describes her new book, Shadows and Reflections, in two parts. She considers part I to be a visual and thoughtful exploration of the shadow side of life, noting, “In a shadow, whether belonging to person or object, distinctions disappear. They are ageless, genderless, and colorless. All outward characteristics erased, casting out discrimination caused by perception and judgment. The shadows altered only by the surfaces they grace. Imagine two figures meet, no hair color, eye shape, eye color, or skin color to compare and contrast. The shadow, a great equalizer and a common bond created by ‘one’ source given indiscriminately to all.”

 

The author/photographer states in her book that part II is dedicated to the study of reflections, less complicated and yet, just as thought provoking: “To see beyond the obvious, to be aware of our surroundings – really aware. To be present to life and all that it offers. To take a moment and look deeply and see the unseen, beyond the linear into periphery. What’s in the mirror, the window, and at the water’s edge is often more playful and interesting than the original forms.”

 

Two photographs stand out in Shadows & Reflections. One, “Along the Seine,” has the author enveloping herself in this historic Paris landmark. She observed, “The cobblestone banks of the River Seine lined with stark trees and their shadows, bicyclists at rest alongside the occasional napper. Lovers spending long periods of time talking, kissing, hugging and taking in each other’s essence. I will come back to Paris one day with a love of my own,” she romanticizes. In another photograph, “Candlestick,” Brookes explains her imagery: “While sailing around San Francisco Bay, the sun moved into position behind the pinnacle of the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Absent of light to the camera’s eye, the bridge goes black, the sun bursting like a star casting a shadow in the glistening water below. These are the moments to be treasured, unplanned and perfect. I call it ‘Candlestick.’”

 

In a previous work titled Growing Old ‘Gray’Cefully, the author expressed her innate ability to capture through the lens of a camera the subtleties of life. Similarly, a photograph in Shadows & Reflections, “Sun Stream,” tells us something about the author as a person. Brookes said of the photo: “The apartment bedroom in Montmartre is facing east and the sun is spilling into the room, painting a shadow of the flowering balcony rail as if weaving its pattern into the bedding. It is these simple things that bring me the most joy, when my spirit is open to see them. I imagined myself sprawled across the bed and that at any minute that same pattern would be moving across my body, allowing the sun’s warm rays to penetrate my skin and quench my thirsty mind, while dreaming of far off tropical places with white sand and clear, warm waters. Ding – Dong – Ding – Dong, the morning church bell sounds a subtle melodic reminder that I am in Paris, on this beautiful clear and brisk April morning.” Her words create erotic imagery in the mind, far beyond the images captured by her lens.

 

This is a book that should be in the collection of all reading and photography enthusiasts; I highly recommend Shadows and Reflections.  The book may be purchased at her website, www.loribrookes.com.

Dennis Moore is a member of the San Diego Writers/Editors Guild. He has written for Life After 50 Magazine in Pasadena, California, and the Baja Times Newspaper in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. He can be contacted at contractsagency@gmail.com or you follow him on Twitter at: @DennisMoore8.

 


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Comments

"HOPE San Diego"

Not only is Lori Brookes a great photographer, but she is also a caring and giving person. Last year her "HOPE San Diego" organization made and distributed over 600 meals to people in the downtown and South Bay San Diego area.

"Shadows & Reflections"

I am honored to have been invited to Lori Brookes' Photography Show & Artist Reception at the Ideal Hotel Studio & Tea Room in San Diego, 546 Third Avenue, on Saturday, November 13 from 5:30PM to 9:30PM.

Congratulations Lori,

Dennis

Book Review

At the end of the day, a few minutes pondering the words
and photos by Lori Brookes' "Shadows and Reflections"
relaxes the mind and allows a peaceful resolve.

Charles Amendt

Shadows and Reflections by Lori Brookes

Take time to enjoy the phots and pros of "Shadows & Reflections" by Lori Brookes. After I visited each page and put this book down, I felt like I had been on a relaxing enjoyable vacation!

Vacation!

Karen is also the proud owner of several prints from the book. I love that the images have sent you on a vacation!

Shadows and Reflections

This is an amazing book! Most books that include this type of photography are purchased for the photos alone and in this case it would be enough here too. However, Lori's words with the photos are really the best part. These are not descriptions of the photos rather they are feelings of the photos. I think this is what makes this book extra special.

I would recommend it to everyone.

More than photography

Thank you! This is an important message about the book and thank you for expressing that and continually supporting my work.

Shadows & Reflections

Yes, this is more than photography, as Lori indicates, it is a philosophy of life! Everytime I work with Lori on a project, as I did in this book review, I come away with a greater appreciation of life, the subtle things that are revealed through her photography.

Mr. Graham

After visiting Amazon for a tour of your new book 'Beyond Justice' and your biography, it is with heartfelt thanks that you took the time to consider reviewing my new book. Kudos to Dennis Moore once again for his continued support.

Lori

Lori Brookes Photography

Shadows & Reflections

Beautiful

I'm enticed and want to get the book now. Ms.Brookes, your book looks wonderful from just the few images displayed in this review. I especially appreciate the philosophical angle. Looking forward to reading/viewing it.




Another great review, Mr. Moore. You do such a service to the community by bringing important works to public knowledge. I look forward to being introduced to more such works by your reviews.




Joshua Graham


Author of BEYOND JUSTICE


www.joshua-graham.com

Gratitude

Very honored that Dennis chose my book to review and have great appreciation for his rave review. What I am most tickled with is his appreciation for not only my images but more importantly the bigger philosophical message. As both a writer and a photographer it was such a breath of fresh air to see how Dennis took in my work on all levels. This book is truly an expression of my life philosophy, who I am as woman and how I view the world. Thank you Dennis for giving it such great consideration.

Honored!

Lori gives me too much credit for attempting to interpret her work, and certainly appreciating it. Her work speaks for itself. Having had the good fortune and pleasure to work with her on a few projects, I am the main beneficiary of her philosophy of life. Her photographs seem to speak to the soul. She has that uncanny ability to project through her pictures, life itself. We are going to hear and see a lot more from this woman in the future. I am truly honored to have had the opportunity to feel and interpret her philosophy of life, through a camera lens.