I grew up idealizing the natural world as a refuge from urbanity, a place of solace and spiritual renewal, and a source of awe and transcendence. But as urbanization and other human activity continue to erase them, these pristine wildernesses have become few and far between.
The timeless, primordial landscapes of Iceland overwhelm by their sheer scale and their volcanic, glacial wildness. Elemental, untouched, they radiate a fierce, rugged beauty which feels both menacing and enlivening. Strong winds and rain scour mountainsides. Walls of ice grind their way to the ocean. Cascades of water carve channels through fresh rock only recently emerged from the planet's core.
Amidst this unspoiled ancient terrain, I was captivated by the darkness and mystery of these landscapes, and entranced by their unexpected textures and shadows. I could once again marvel at the wonders of our world, enthralled by the magic of the light, which allowed glimpses of secret, beguiling places.
Lev L. Spiro
Lev L. Spiro is a fine art photographer and filmmaker, whose work tries to convey the sense of mystery and wonder he finds in the natural world.
Work from his series Fugitive Light, Night Creatures and Thin Places has been juried into more than 60 exhibitions, including A. Smith Gallery, Southeast Center for Photography, Ph21 Gallery, Midwest Center for Photography, and Davis Orton Gallery, as well as featured in publications including Dodho Magazine, Shadow & Light Magazine, What Will You Remember?, Art Ascent Magazine (Gold Artist, June 2021; Silver Artist, July 2023) All About Photo, and Black + White UK.
Lev currently teaches the fine art photography courses The Artful Garden and Story & Emotion in the Natural World for Santa Fe Workshops. He's also well known for his tv and film directing work, having helmed more than 160 episodes, pilots and features for tv including multiple Emmy-award winning series such as Orange is the New Black, Ugly Betty, Modern Family, Weeds and Arrested Development. He lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife, screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, and their two dogs T.Beau and Luna.
levlspiro.com
@llspiro
Santa Fe Workshops with Lev L. Spiro
