Shawn Theodore

Return From The Bardos Into The Wede

2019

Elsa Poppin - Platinum Palladium print over 24 carat Gold leaf on vellum paper Edition 1/8 or 2/8, plus 2 AP ( Medium size ) Unframed handmade photographic reproduction on sensit...

"Shinto is Japan’s oldest religion, with origins dating back to the tail end of the Stone Age. While many Japanese people do not consider themselves religious, a large percentage of the population still follows Shinto ideas today. You don’t have to venture far in the country to find one of its 80,000 shrines. They stand tall in quiet forests, over the water along the island’s coasts, and above rice fields. Shinto was not born from a specific founder or religious scripture—it lives within the people. It is not a defining characteristic—rather, it is a part of life. Personal virtues are emphasized over strict rituals or rules. Benevolence, harmony, courage, and gratitude all support the key theme of Shinto: the concept of purity, or harae. The religion holds that humans are inherently good and should cleanse themselves of moral and spiritual impurities. Followers strive to achieve makoto no kokoro—a heart of truth. You will see a version of this ritual at the entrance of shrines. Visitors gather at a water basin and use a wooden ladle to pour water over each of their hands. It's fitting that some of Japan’s animal residents appear to find their own quiet form of renewal in the mountains. For centuries, monkeys have appeared in Japanese folklore with a variety of meanings. They have been used as metaphors for tricksters and the negative traits of humans, but they have also served as sacred messengers to the gods. On this rainy morning in northern Japan, I observed macaques who seemed to embody both roles. There were the raucous individuals—screeching, pulling hair, and chasing others beside the hot springs—falling...

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. The formation of a bait ball is a last-ditch effort for survival. But for many herring, this will be their final dance, swimming in tan...

"Beneath Yellowstone’s thousands of square miles of mountains, pine forests, lakes, and rivers lies a vast volcanic system—one that has given rise to more than ten thousand thermal f...

"The word “rhapsody” originates from the Greek rhaptein, meaning “to stitch or sew,” and ōidē, meaning “song” or “poetry.” Translated literally, it signifies a stitched-together song...

"At over 70 feet in length, you might think it would be difficult to photobomb. This fin whale proved that size is just a number. During an early morning briefing along Norway’s no...

"The word “rhapsody” originates from the Greek rhaptein, meaning “to stitch or sew,” and ōidē, meaning “song” or “poetry.” Translated literally, it signifies a stitched-together song...

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. The formation of a bait ball is a last-ditch effort for survival. But for many herring, this will be their final dance, swimming in tan...

"Shinto is Japan’s oldest religion, with origins dating back to the tail end of the Stone Age. While many Japanese people do not consider themselves religious, a large percentage of the population still follows Shinto ideas today. You don’t have to venture far in the country to find one of its 80,000 shrines. They stand tall in quiet forests, over the water along the island’s coasts, and above rice fields. Shinto was not born from a specific founder or religious scripture—it lives within the people. It is not a defining characteristic—rather, it is a part of life. Personal virtues are emphasized over strict rituals or rules. Benevolence, harmony, courage, and gratitude all support the key theme of Shinto: the concept of purity, or harae. The religion holds that humans are inherently good and should cleanse themselves of moral and spiritual impurities. Followers strive to achieve makoto no kokoro—a heart of truth. You will see a version of this ritual at the entrance of shrines. Visitors gather at a water basin and use a wooden ladle to pour water over each of their hands. It's fitting that some of Japan’s animal residents appear to find their own quiet form of renewal in the mountains. For centuries, monkeys have appeared in Japanese folklore with a variety of meanings. They have been used as metaphors for tricksters and the negative traits of humans, but they have also served as sacred messengers to the gods. On this rainy morning in northern Japan, I observed macaques who seemed to embody both roles. There were the raucous individuals—screeching, pulling hair, and chasing others beside the hot springs—falling...

Archival Pigment Print Los Caneros All available sizes & editions for each size of this photograph: 50" X 60"- Edition of 5 + 2 Artist Proofs 70" X 90"- Edition of 5 + 2 Artist Pr...