Shawn Records: At A Loss

Untitled, 2001 (from “At A Loss”) © Shawn Records “Truth is, I’m not much of a naturalist,” writes Shawn Records in the statement for his project At A Loss.

I can’t identify the trees in my yard, enjoy camping primarily for the drive to get there, and my appreciation for nature sounds as trite as a personals ad… full of a fondness for walks on the beach, sunsets, seagulls, and waterfalls. But mornings when it’s warm enough, I prefer to drink my coffee in the backyard, on the bench under the rose bush, watching the squirrels and birds fight over whatever it is that they find on top of the garage. While I’m not sure that this should be considered an experience of nature, I’m not sure that it shouldn’t either.

Shawn’s photographs seem to ask, “just what is it that we are hoping to find in nature?” Is there some sort of “truth” to be found, lessons to be learned? Untitled, 2001 (from “At A Loss”) © Shawn Records This reminded me of the remarkable story of Christopher McCandless as recounted in Jon Krakauer’s book, Into the Wild. Just last week I saw the film adaptation, directed by Sean Penn. As the story goes, McCandless ventures off into the Alaskan wilderness for a Thoreau-like period of solitary contemplation, in search of something which he himself struggles to put into words. See the rest of the photographs from At A Loss on Shawn’s website. And if you have time, stop by his new blog.