We are just over a month away from the release of Acts of Faith, and given the season it’s the perfect time to drop the latest video about this project. I’ve been to Mexico a few times now for Day of the Dead, and if you ever have the chance to go, I recommend it. It’s a beautiful way to remember lost loved ones.
While the Day of the Dead has become a part of Catholic spiritual life in Mexico, it is actually a celebration begun long ago by the indigenous people of the country. In particular the Purépecha create elaborate ofrendas and spend all night vigils on November 1st and 2nd at the graves of their loved ones.
Blending Catholic traditions with indigenous rituals, the Day of the Dead honors loved ones who return briefly to the world of the living. The Dia de Los Muertos Payer, begins, “Your providence guides our lives, and by your promise we return to dust. In your grace you promise us that those who die still live in Your presence.”
We are getting close to the release of Acts of Faith, and along the way to the pub date I am sharing the stories behind the photos. Today I’m sharing some photographs both from the book and others that didn’t quite make it in from my visit to the Lalibela mountains of Ethiopia. Here, underground churches have been incredibly carved into the stone itself, creating subterranean places of worship by the Christian groups who practice there.
Enjoy the video, and check out more stories and photographs from this upcoming book on the Acts of Faith page, and don’t forget to pre-order your signed copy with print!
Happy spooky season to everyone who celebrates! The grey skies have returned to Seattle just in time for me to be off on another adventure. By the time this post hits the blog, I’ll likely be in Thailand and then Bangladesh grabbing some last minute photos for my upcoming book on international faith and spirituality. Act of Faith will explore people of all different religions and walks of life engaging in personal and communal acts as part of their belief system, from the Shamans of Mongolia to Jewish traditions in Israel.
Now that you might be indoors just a bit more due to to waning daylight and damp weather, I wanted to remind everyone that there are a few free episodes of Travels to the Edge and Pathways to Creativity online:
Art Wolfe’s Pathways to Creativity: Embracing the Abstract Youtube | Vimeo
Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge: Bhutan
Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge: New Zealand
My staff is also ready to print up unique holiday gifts if you want to get a jump on your shopping. In the spirit of the season, use code BOOPRINTS through October 31st and save 31% on prints!
Lastly, I would be remiss to not highlight a few upcoming trips for anyone who might be interested. Also expiring on the 31st is the early bird discount on a trip to Borneo next September—with an emphasis on wildlife. Also in terms of wildlife, the next big trip with space yet available are for a premium tour in Tanzania in January for the calving season, with an emphasis on the region’s active predators.
Lastly, I’ll be leading a tour in Morocco in March. Given past interest in this trip, I don’t imagine it will take long to fill up! If you’re looking to experience the convergence of culture where Europe, Arabia and Africa overlap, it will be an experience to remember!
Enjoy your weekend—I’ll be looking forward to sharing photos when I return!
New Zealand’s extreme beauty is central to its identity. Here, indigenous Maori people see themselves as guardians of the land. In episode seven, Art captures portraits of contemporary Maori artists who wear their stories on their faces in the form of sacred tattoos, and convey their sense of stewardship through their art. Then he heads off to the wild South Island to explore the natural history of this pristine and beautifully preserved island nation.
Enjoy this free episode for a limited time! All episodes of Travels to the Edge are available to stream on my on demand page.
I’ll be heading back to New Zealand this April to explore their local fall season. Limited spaces remain, reserve your spot today!
Despite a busy schedule, and thanks to my assistant Chris for her efforts to get me there, I was able to visit Hawaii and photograph the spectacular volcanic activity there that’s been going on for months. Despite adverse conditions on first arrival, I came away with some incredible shots that I’m happy with. Enjoy the video and stay tuned for more images from this trip!
“What I see vs. what I take” is a trend online among photographers to show how they find interesting subjects in otherwise uninteresting busy shots that lack a focus. It just so happens that this very idea is the concept behind the opening discussion of the Pathways to Creativity series I released a few years ago when I was at home during the pandemic.
There’s a lot going on in the world right now, so take a time out with a free episode of my streaming series Pathways to Creativity – Embracing the Abstract! Abstract photography is the perfect way to put your creativity and that fancy camera you’ve got to good use. The one on your phone is likely perfect for capturing abstract mages.
Experimentation can lead to happy accidents, unique techniques and more as you establish a visual language that speaks to you. Whether you’re hunting for visual metaphors, trying to capture a mood, or simply want to decorate with fascinating images that will raise questions and drive conversations, there is something very freeing about bucking convention and pushing the boundaries of what photography can be. Much like a sketchbook it’s less about the final image and heavily about the process.
If you’re feeling especially inspired, there are several opportunities on the upcoming calendar where I’ll be hosting photography retreats in Oregon and Washington, and although only a few such as Astoria, Port Townsend and Lake Quinault specifically mention abstracts in their titles, you can rest assured I’m always looking for such images myself wherever I am. You’re certainly not going to ruffle this artist’s feathers by seeking out MORE creative ways to express yourself through photography.
Just before heading out on my current trip, I sat down with Matt Jacobs on The Mood Podcast to talk about. . . well, a little bit of everything! Matt, an esteemed photographer himself is also the host of The Mood Podcast, and asked some fantastic questions. We definitely had some laughs, shared some truths and had a great conversation.
Enjoy the podcast – give Matt a follow and share with your friends! Links below.
I just returned from another spectacular journey in Southern Africa. While the dunes of Sossusvlei are always stunning, what really made the trip this time was photographing desert elephants. While they are not a distinct species from savanna elephants, they are uniquely adapted to the harsh desert environment. They are constantly spraying sand over themselves to keep cool which creates plumes of light-filtering dust, perfect for those atmospheric images.
The wildlife on this trip was also a great opportunity to put my favorite new feature on the Canon EOS R5 Mark II to good use. This was my first trip using the camera, and the ability to recover frames from a half-second before you’d traditionally expect to has already paid dividends. When the situation is changing rapidly, the best shots often fall into this window where you’re reacting. I highlighted a few more of the new features as well as an important note about the updated batteries in this recent post while I was on-location for this trip.
This was a fantastic adventure all around. Southern Africa continues to provide an amazing array of wildlife, culture and landscapes. The company was especially enjoyable, even if they took a little too much pleasure in my squeals of fear while traversing the dunes in buggies. Our help on the ground was also able to provide some great video content on-location; be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to check those out!
A few years back when most of us were stuck indoors, I took some time to comb through my catalog collecting hundreds of photos and put together Pathways to Creativity. From wildlife to abstracts, Pathways is a comprehensive look at my work and the thought process behind it. This is an exploration of ideas and inspiration, encompassing all aspects of photography from the way I use the technology to how I employ my fine art background into compositions and framing my subjects.
Years before that, I hosted a show exploring the world through my lens. Travels to the Edge is still circulating around the country. It was an incredible experience and I’m honored to have had the opportunity to bring my travels to your home.
Enjoy this content now streaming on my on-demand page for 30% off through Tuesday, September 3rd!
Use code LD24WOLFE at checkout to claim your 30% off – Available on all on-demand video. I recommend setting up a Vimeo account for easy access to your purchases!
Happy Labor Day Weekend!