The Quiet Light: Photography by Dayne Bonta

Early Morning. Late evening

Springtime or winter….I travel country roads 

My hope is that the work is a reflection of a more quiet land.

Perhaps a land that never was.

Sometimes I find it.

Dayne Bonta

Photographers are compelled to illustrate what they see, an object, the color of a flower, a landscape at sunset, trees in the early morning fog. There is a desire to preserve that moment where the light is perfect and the imagery profound.  They seek to capture that fleeting inspirational experience.

Dayne Bonta, age 84, is that type of photographer, seeking to capture the moment when subject matter, light, color, and atmosphere blend into the sublime. He does not adhere to the concept of “pure photography,” or “straight photography” meaning to realistically recreate, without manipulation, the imagery photographed.  Bonta, working in the digital medium, considers the initial photograph a tool with which to experiment.

In 1975, on a trip to the west coast, Bonta was given an introduction to the master photographer, Ansel Adams.  Bonta stated that Adams was a very giving person, offering to review Bonta’s work.  Adams suggested that Bonta also visit Paul Caponigro, Brett Weston, and Wynn Bullock, all renowned West coast photographers.

Bonta considers Paul Caponigro his mentor and friend. It was said of Caponigro that he depicts the spiritual dimensions of the natural world.  Caponigro explains, “For me, photography provides an intersection of time, space, light, and emotional stance. One needs to be still enough, observant enough, and aware enough to recognize the life of the materials, to be able to hear through the eyes.”  Bonta is that type of photographer, ever seeing light, shape, form, and color, capturing the quietness of light, thus creating a photograph becomes a spiritual rendering, certain to evoke an emotional response.