story behind the photo

I photographed Ascension along the East Coast during one of my wildlife trips focused entirely on creating fine art rather than documentation. The subject is a great white heron lifting off, but when I first saw the image on the back of the camera, it no longer read as a bird to me. It felt like an angel rising. I spent nearly two weeks photographing these birds, shooting thousands of frames, experimenting with motion and slower shutter speeds, knowing exactly what I was chasing but not knowing when it would finally reveal itself. When this moment appeared, I recognized it instantly as the image I had been searching for all along. The blur of the wings, the vertical lift of the body, and the soft dissolution of form transformed the scene into something symbolic rather than literal. That is what draws me to motion in wildlife photography, it opens a door to interpretation, emotion, and mystery, allowing the image to speak beyond what was physically present. This photograph has remained one of my personal favorites, and it has resonated deeply with collectors who see in it the same sense of ascent, presence, and quiet wonder.

“He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” – Genesis 28:12 (NIV)

PRINT PROCESS & AVAILABILITY

Ascension is offered as a Dynafuse metal architectural panel, a high definition process that infuses archival dyes directly into a specially coated aluminum surface, producing exceptional depth, clarity, and permanence while preserving the softness and motion that define this image. The smooth, frameless presentation gives the work a contemporary architectural presence that allows the form and movement to remain the focus without distraction. This piece is available as a limited edition of 12, produced at 30 x 40 inches, with each architectural panel signed, titled, and numbered by the artist, and once the edition is complete, no additional Dynafuse metal architectural panels of Ascension will be produced. Pricing is available upon inquiry.