Clouds Collection

Jory A. Pacht Artist Statement A well-known photographer once told me that the earth is not pretty; but it is beautiful. I have pondered that statement at length. Most photographers start out taking “pretty pictures”. I certainly did. But my pretty pictures looked like everyone else’s pretty pictures. Oversaturated sunrise shots of mountains? Been there, done that. So how do I capture the beauty without the “pretty” getting in the way? That single goal has been the focus of my artistic journey over the past five years. I look for the beauty in contrast and tonality, not color. I seek out harsh light and inclement weather. I look for beauty in humanity. I look for beauty where others tell me not to. I look for beauty where there is no pretty. Pretty is easy. Beauty is the truly elusive goal.