Why I can’t let it go

London ~ Photo by: April Martin

"In the realm of photography, Cartier-Bresson immortalized what he termed 'The Decisive Moment'—that ephemeral instance of brilliance and insight when a photographer seizes a singular moment. I, too, hold fast to this belief. To truly embrace freedom, to truly commune with the essence of existence, one must immerse oneself... in the now... and within that fleeting juncture, one must make a choice.

What is it about that moment that stirs the soul? It is a transient whisper, a passing breath of time, slipping through our grasp like grains of sand. Once it slips away, it is lost to us forever. We can never replicate the precise confluence of time, place, and emotion that it encapsulated."

~ April

“my journey into the realm of shadows and light, where each click of the shutter served as a gateway to realms unseen.”

Distillery in Kentucky, Leica M9 photography April Martin

In the quiet solitude of my home studio, amidst the soft glow of the lamplight, I find myself reflecting on the journey that brought me to this moment. It was a journey into the realm of shadows and light, where each click of the shutter served as a gateway to realms unseen.

I remember the day vividly, like a scene captured in the depths of memory. I was young and filled with restless dreams, yearning for something more than the ordinary humdrum of military life. It was then, at the tender age of 19, that a vision came to me in the form of a dream. That dream lingered in my mind like an elusive whisper, stirring something deep within me. And so, fueled by an inexplicable longing, I embarked on a quest to capture that fleeting moment of joy. Without hesitation, I ventured forth to Sears, where I charged a camera with trembling hands, eager to seize hold of the magic that awaited me.

From that moment onward, my life became a tapestry woven with threads of light and shadow. Each click of the shutter became a sacred ritual, a dance between darkness and illumination. Through the lens of my camera, I discovered a world brimming with untold stories and hidden truths—a world where ordinary moments shimmered with extraordinary beauty.

But beneath the surface of each photograph lay something deeper—an essence that transcended the confines of reality. It was as if I had unearthed a secret doorway to another realm, where the boundaries between imagination and truth blurred into obscurity. In the quiet stillness of my darkroom, I delved into the alchemy of creation, coaxing shadows to dance upon silvered surfaces and breathing life into frozen moments.

Yet, amidst the whirlwind of artistic pursuit, there existed a quiet reverence—a recognition of the profound privilege bestowed upon me. For in every image I captured, I glimpsed a fragment of eternity—a fleeting glimpse of the divine woven into the fabric of existence.

And so, as I sit here now, penning these words upon the canvas of my digital journal, I am reminded once more of the sacredness of my craft. It is a journey that continues to unfold, a ceaseless exploration of the boundless depths of the human soul—a journey into the realm of shadows and light, where each click of the shutter serves as a portal to realms unseen.

All Images below taken by me with my Leica M9