Kate Patterson
​May 8 - 30

THE BOKEH BOTANICAL SERIES | May 8 - May 30
   “In photography, bokeh is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in out-of-focus parts of an image. Bokeh has also been defined as “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light.”
   The Bokeh Botanical Series is a celebration of the flora that thrives on Martha’s Vineyard. Each image works to capture the perspective of the island’s active ecosystem. Bees, ants, and a myriad of other creatures take in these plants as their source of life and shelter. This ascensive view into local flora reveals details in texture, color and shape overlooked by our naked eyes. To explore what this miniature world looks like to our insect neighbors, I limited the depth of field and featured compositions that placed the majority of the image out of focus.
   The bold colors, pleasing shapes and fascinating inner workings of these images capture the joy so many of us find on the island. The focus of each botanical offers uncommon features of the plant’s details; the out of focus areas, or bokeh, provide an expanse of relaxed impressionistic translation of light and color.
   For me, photography is a journey. Something catches my eye, and I follow it, observing the subject, changing exposure, trying another angle. I look for the image that captures what I saw or thought I saw.  Sometimes the process is quick, capturing a moment in time. Often, it’s slow and methodical, stretching over days, in pursuit of the perfectly accumulated elements.
   In July, I used macro photography as a teaching tool in a workshop for teens at Featherstone Center for the Arts. The students were excited by what they saw through the lens… a miniature world, the inner workings of plants. Their enthusiasm reminded me how fully this island connects us to nature, to each other, and to different parts of ourselves. I was inspired to capture that exploratory magic, and thrilled share it with each of you.

Kate Patterson
​October 2021