Featured Artist Jake Waxelbaum

Photographer Jake Waxelbaum patiently plans to capture the perfect composition that reflects the image he has in mind. Enjoy his portfolio, and view more by visiting his website.

 

 

How do you capture time as reality? This is the question I ask myself when I explore my vision of nature’s beauty. We experience time by following the revolutions of the sun and moon as they pass around us every single day of every single month of every single year.

 

 

This is what I do when I freeze this perpetual symphony in my art; capturing the celestial tools we use as time’s embodiment.

 

 

I don’t take photographs, I create expressions by composing in my mind’s eye before I even pick up my camera. I often look for a challenge when it comes to capturing a particular scene and have been known to lie in wait for several weeks or months just for the sun or moon to line up in the right position. Sometimes the magic is worth the wait.

 

 

For my “Sunset-Moonrise” series, I was obsessed with getting the sun and moon together in the same image at the same moment; capturing scenes that seem impossible to the eye but are 100% genuine. During every full moon of the year, the sun disappears beyond the horizon approximately 45 minutes before the moon makes its grand appearance. Using this knowledge, I only have twelve chances in a year to capture both heavenly bodies as they tango in the sky.

 

 

I photographed “Sunset Moonrise Carpe Diem” this past New Year’s Day. I had tried and failed on six previous full moons to get my vision of a vertical lineup with the sun, due to poor weather conditions and not finding the perfection location. Finally, despite freezing subzero temperatures, the New Year’s sky cleared up enough for the sun and moon to begin their monthly dance. It took me half a year, but I was finally able to tell the story locked inside my mind.

 

 

Despite seeming like an illusion, I turned my dream into a reality. Patience, persistence, perseverance, and sometimes luck. These traits define my method.

 

 

As I went to capture my vision for “Some May Rise in Somerset” I sat in a dark empty field from 2 a.m. to photograph moonrise until 6 a.m. to photograph sunrise, the whole time not moving my camera. This allowed me to blend my idea of seeing the same scene, but hours apart.

 

 

Every now and then, I don’t need to pause for months as I’m fortunate enough for the clouds to allow the sun or moon to make a brief appearance before they become lost again.

 

 

My photographs are not just about capturing the specific foreground subject in the scene, they are about being captured and not being able to let go.

 

 

When I plan a shot (or view a scene through my magic crystal ball) I always seek, develop, and experiment with new ideas. Currently I am working on my biggest challenge yet—capturing an entire year in a single photograph.

 

 

The pleasure my artistic vision gives to you is what drives my passion.

 

Artist Jake Waxelbaum invites you to follow him on Facebook.

 

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