Genius Loci in Photography

Alexander Pope founded the term “genius loci” with the following lines from Epistle IV, to Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington:

Consult the genius of the place in all;


That tells the waters to rise, or fall;


Or helps th' ambitious hill the heav'ns to scale,


Or scoops in circling theatres the vale;


Calls in the country, catches opening glades,


Joins willing woods, and varies shades from shades,


Now breaks, or now directs, th' intending lines;


Paints as you plant, and, as you work, designs.

Pope's verse laid the foundation for one of the most enduring principles of landscape architecture: design must be deeply rooted in its context. This principle emphasizes that successful designs emerge from understanding the place itself—through study, analysis, and immersion. To design well is to ask questions of the land, to listen, and to embed oneself fully in its essence.

Skyline 7 (2020)

Zebra Stripes (2020)

I have carried this principle from my background in landscape architecture into my fine art photography. For me, photo trips are not merely opportunities to live on the road; they are a means to connect deeply with the soul of a place. To capture its true essence, I believe in spending extended periods embedding myself in its rhythms and nuances. This immersive approach allows me to move beyond "taking pictures" to creating photographs that embody the genius loci—the spirit of the place.

Unlike a tourist with a camera snapping photos of a picturesque view, I devote significant time to understanding what a location wants to communicate. Months of planning often precede a trip, but my process truly begins once I arrive. I spend 2–3 days simply walking without my camera, absorbing the emotions and sensations a place evokes. For more intensive projects, I eat, sleep, and work in the location for weeks or even months. This was the case when exploring the slot canyons of Utah and Arizona or documenting the length of the Pacific Coast Highway.

Waterfall II (2022)

This approach shifts my focus from "capturing a view" to "capturing an emotion." By tuning into the subtleties of a place—the texture of its light, the cadence of its sounds, the weight of its silence—I aim to create photographs that go beyond the visual. My goal is to present viewers with images that evoke the true spirit and emotion of a place, offering an experience as much as a view.