Contours of Silence

Sometimes, to strengthen our creative work, we must be willing to let parts of it go. This episode is a personal account of revisiting and simplifying photography portfolios. Using my "Fleeting Existence" portfolio as an example, I share how removing three images led to a more powerful and cohesive result. I also explore the ambiguous case of my unpublished "Harris" work, where the "filler" images might be essential. Ultimately, it’s a reflection on the fluid nature of art, the importance of asking the right questions, and the quiet strength found in simplification. Link to Blog page with all the examples discussed in the episode:https://www.verseoflight.com/blog/portfolio-simplification-and-the-journey-of-single-images Fleeting Existence portfolio: https://www.verseoflight.com/portfolio/2025/fleeting-existence  Website: VerseOfLight.comInstagram: @verse.of.light Instagram: @contours.of.vision Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

Style is not a technique to be learned, but an unknown territory to be explored with a quiet mind. It is about learning to recognize the subtle, vague hints your whole being responds to when you look at a piece of work. By pausing to ask why an image works for you - exploring its mood, its colors, its feeling - you gather another building block for your own style.Previous episodes on style development:Developing our own styleCreative DNA Website: VerseOfLight.comInstagram: @verse.of.light Instagram: @contours.of.vision Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

What is the true source of creativity? This episode begins with a reflection on the poetry of Walt Whitman and journeys inward to explore the profound power of listening to ourselves. We consider how this quiet, internal attention is the foundation beneath all creative habits and techniques - allowing us to distinguish our path, know when to rest, and build the confidence to create work that is genuinely our own. Website: VerseOfLight.comInstagram: @verse.of.light Instagram: @contours.of.vision Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

This episode explores the journey of building a photographic portfolio, step by step. Using “Fleeting Existence” as a case study, I share how old raw material can gain new life once we ourselves are ready to see it differently. From first selections to final refinement, this is a story about patience, structure, and allowing images to reveal their own direction. Portfolio: Fleeting ExistenceWebsite: VerseOfLight.comInstagram: @verse.of.light Instagram: @contours.of.vision Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

Cooler winds bring the turning of seasons, reminding us of the cycles in both nature and creativity. Returning from a ten-day Vipassana retreat, I reflect on how silence and meditation sharpen sensitivity - first inwardly, then outwardly - until art itself becomes a process of seeing beneath surfaces. In the stillness of field work or the quiet of editing, images arise not as trophies to be captured but as subtle truths revealed. Meditation, like art, is less about striving and more about attunement: a way of living, perceiving, and uncovering deeper realities. Website: VerseOfLight.comInstagram: @verse.of.light Instagram: @contours.of.vision Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

In this episode, I reflect on the sources of inspiration that sustain us in times of struggle and doubt. From nature’s quiet unfolding to the fresh perspectives of children, from the generosity of young volunteers to the wisdom found in books, inspiration appears in many forms. These encounters can shift our state of mind, moving us from worry to wonder, from heaviness to lightness. They not only keep us going but also shape our art and deepen our sense of meaning.Website: VerseOfLight.comInstagram: @verse.of.light Instagram: @contours.of.vision Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

As morning light gives way to clarity, this episode explores a new facet in my practice - creative play and unburdened photography. With the Fuji X100VI, I found a tool that invites lightness, spontaneity, and freedom from post-processing. I reflect on the purpose behind this change, and introduce @contours.of.vision - a quiet stream of playful works, untethered to outcome, yet often surprisingly meaningful. These are glimpses into a freer process - one that may gently shape future work. Website: VerseOfLight.comInstagram: @verse.of.light Instagram: @contours.of.vision Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

From a space between immersion and observation, this episode offers a contemplative look at two modes of creating: exploratory and target-oriented photography. Whether we begin with a clear vision or allow meaning to emerge through presence, both paths reveal something essential. One filters with purpose; the other receives with openness. Together, they form a creative dialogue - between what we know and what we’re still discovering. Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

We often chase the shimmer of new tools, hoping they will guide us somewhere profound. But art does not always respond to noise. It listens for whispers. In this episode, I explore the dance between desire and necessity—how the tools we crave might charm us, only to lead us away from the very heart of creation. Is it complexity that helps us see—or simplicity that frees the path? Through the lens of photography and beyond, we return to this quiet place, asking: what do I really need to make something true? Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

Fear can shut down the mind or sharpen it. Living in a place touched by ongoing war, I reflect on how fear—whether physical or psychological—affects our ability to create. Sometimes it blocks subtlety. Sometimes, it demands expression. This episode explores how fear might not end creativity, but deepen it. Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

Many describe haiku as “playful verse”—a term that captures both its lightness and its depth. In this episode, I explore how this sense of playful experimentation not only shapes haiku, but also underpins all creative expression. From resisting rigid thinking to creating with freedom, I share the journey behind my latest photography portfolio, “Horizons,” and the liberating power of letting go of outcomes. When we stop aiming to produce and start playing, we may uncover something genuinely new. Link to “Horizons” portfolio:https://www.verseoflight.com/icm/2025/horizons Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

Significant breakthroughs—whether artistic, spiritual, or personal—rarely happen by chance. They arise from the quiet persistence of small steps. This episode explores how minor, consistent actions hold profound transformative potential. Drawing from examples in science, art, and everyday choices, I reflect on how habits like weekly creative sessions or limiting screen time can gradually shift our lives. It's a reminder that lasting change isn’t sudden—it grows slowly, one small step at a time. Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

In this episode, I explore the idea of “Creative DNA,” inspired by Twyla Tharp’s book The Creative Habit. This concept suggests that each of us has a unique creative code—an internal compass that shapes the way we see, create, and express. I reflect on how this idea aligns with previous thoughts shared here about developing a personal style, and how understanding this inner DNA can bring clarity and depth to our work. I also share my own process of self-analysis using Tharp’s 33 questions and the insights gained from reviewing my photographic portfolios. Through this, I’ve come to recognize that my most meaningful work consistently evokes a felt response, not just aesthetic appreciation. Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

Desire often wears a convincing mask. In this episode, I reflect on a recent experience with longing—a rekindled craving for a Leica camera—and how it revealed the mind’s talent for illusion. Guided by the Buddhist notion of Mara, I explore the tension between creative aspiration and quiet simplicity. What follows is an invitation to question not just what we want, but why we want it. Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

A brushstroke, a verse, a sculpted form—each an echo of a journey, but never the journey itself. What if art is not the artifact, but the space it carves within us? The artist steps into the flow, dissolving into the act of making. This episode lingers in that space, exploring the quiet force that compels us to create—not for the world, but for the act itself. Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

How do we develop our own artistic voice? Is it something we create, or something we gradually discover? In this episode, I wander through questions of artistic voice—how it forms, why imitation is both a teacher and a weight to shed, and why stepping into uncertainty is essential. From the drip paintings of Jackson Pollock to the color fields of Mark Rothko, the path of self-discovery in art is long, often unclear, and deeply personal. Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

The path of art is not hurried. It asks for time—not just to create, but to see, to listen, to grow. Like a river carving stone, our artistic vision forms through rhythm and dedication. This episode explores how to integrate art into daily life, the importance of conscious engagement, and the necessity of letting go of distractions to make space for artistic growth. Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

Titles carry weight. They shape perception, offering insight or mystery. In this episode, I reflect on my own struggles with naming images and portfolios, and how a simple change transformed my connection with a body of work. Through personal experience, I explore the role of titles in art—how they can deepen meaning, shift narratives, and enhance visual storytelling. Link to the Shadowlands portfolio:https://www.verseoflight.com/2024/shadowlands Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

Photography has been a lifelong journey—beginning with childhood experiments in the darkroom, evolving through years of digital excess, and finally arriving at a place of intentional simplicity. In this episode, I share my personal struggles, insights, and transformations in photography, hoping they may help others find their own artistic path. I discuss the shift from quantity to meaning, the realization that "less is more," and the ongoing process of refining creative vision. Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made. 

Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) photography is often described in purely technical terms, but does that name truly capture its essence? In this episode, I reflect on the history of ICM, its artistic roots, and why the term feels inadequate. Is there a better way to describe this approach—one that honors the painterly, expressive nature of the images it creates? Link to the website:https://www.verseoflight.com/ Audio Credit:"The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: chriszabriskie.comChanges: No changes were made.