I work in large format, black and white photographs, scanned and printed digitally onto handmade flax and abaca paper.  I have a fascination with texture, handmade paper has a lovely surface quality that works well with the visual textures in my photographs-be that bark on a tree, footprints in the ice, or the texture of the silver gelatin on the film itself.  This dual texture creates richness for the eye that can be very pleasant and add more character to the work. I like to print my images on a larger scale to force the viewer to be pulled visually into the image, as well as to take advantage of the high amount of detail that large format film captures.   The images depict and water scenery with areas in and out of focus.  This creates several interesting dynamics: land versus water, path versus non-path, in focus versus blurred.  These contrasting elements make me consider how opposites can complement each other when they are forced to interact artistically.  The changing focus in the images creates pathways for the viewer to travel through visually which in turn creates a narrative of facing the unknown.  By facing that which is unsure, even in a simple print, a viewer or an artist can evaluate their own emotions and perceptions of the work and how they are willing to, or not, face the unfamiliar.