Wind on the Waves

In this large, coffee table style book, landscape photographer Ray Atkeson - Photographer Laureate of Oregon from 1987 until his death in 1990 - chronicles the beauty of nature, sunrise to sunset, as seen along the Oregon shoreline. This was the last book he envisioned and played an active role in, the project was carried on and completed by his stepson & protégé Rick Shafer along with writer, poet, teacher Kim Stafford. The photographer & authors intent, however, was not just to express a journey along any specific coast, but to display a journey of the spirit. To offer a combination of captivating, sometimes subtle and haunting, visuals accompanied by thoughtful text that remind one the world is a gift, something sacred. Slant of light, dance of waves, echo of wind, mystery of mountains and forest...More often than not, earth lends us something worth remembering. On every other page lies a beautiful Atkeson or Shafer photograph faced with a page of prose written by Kim Stafford . Stafford's small stories illuminate, through memory or imagination, the given scene... Like the best nature journals this book also might, inadvertently, make you want to go through your own photo archives and add a little literary chronicle to enhance them. A well-combined mixture of words and scenics often doubles the impact - proving a momentary glimpse can become an eternity in heart if truly, fully valued. If you appreciate Kim Stafford`s writing, you will definitely want to own this book ~it's tremendously inspiring. Likewise, if you appreciate first-rate nature photography. I believe it's long out of print but there's often used copies available ~ treasure worth tracking down.