Artist Statement
"My art’s purpose is to expose the extraordinary beauty and energy of the Natural world. I love to explore what hides at the threshold of perception or passes unseen or overlooked. My tool is the camera, but the perspective I choose and my subject matter can render images which are abstract and highly contemplative. The tiniest fungi, lensing and reflection within raindrops and dews, the interplay of water with plants, all offer fascinating glimpses into worlds where boundaries of our ordinary reality no longer apply. In my method I try to capture not only Nature’s tangible raw physical beauty, but also to express her spirituality, which I hope to expose and share through the artistic interpretations I create."
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a favorite subject, of course. Some of the mushroom pictures you see are of mushrooms found growing at Plum lake in the North woods of Wisconsin and in the surrounding countryside there. Many of the other mushroom photographs are of mushrooms native to California. Mushrooms represented here are from Mendocino, Sonoma and from the Santa Cruz mountains among other areas of the state of California. Exploring the redwood forests in search of mushroooms to photograph has its own rewards far beyond the final images I capture on any hike into the woods.
California Oaks and Landscapes
California landscapes and the characteristic oak trees and shadowed hills and valleys of California are other favorites. The brief time before the true end of winter and the start of spring in Northern California affords tremendous opportunity for any photographer native to the area. This is the time to capture the striking contrast of the bare forms of wintering oaks surrounded by the lush greenery of early spring grasses lit by the raking side light of a lingering winter sun.
The wet/dry change of seasons here means that while some California oaks drop their leaves in winter and the wet season, when they are dormant, they are surrounded by a myriad of newly sprouted growing things leading to this sharp contrast.
Water and Extreme Macro Photography
C Ribet's pursuit of tinier and tinier subjects in mushroom photography (many fruit bodies are extremely small with details not visible to the naked eye) has led to other subjects of the natural world of the miniature.
Much of C Ribet's latest work involves extreme close-up photography of water droplets, dew and rain drops, and water condensation on leaves, blades of grass, and on other foliage. These I call orbsacpes, dewscapes or mizzlescapes as it suits. In fact, I am always searching for a name and how to categorize them and when I think I have found one, the images I capture have shifted enough to make me wonder if the same name still applies. This series of prints intimately explores the interplay of aqueous lensing and reflection and illuminates the natural energies hidden within these tiniest of water droplets and water bubbles in dew and rain (and mizzle!).
Personal Note from the Artist:
On an off topic, I find that dried dragon fruit from Trader Joe's market helps my diabetes blood glucose control - but Trader Joe's is always running out of their dragon fruit. If you ever visit a Trader Joe's make sure you ask for it - and harrass them if they don't have it in stock! It makes a significant difference for me in my personal battle against diabetes without drugs and medications.