On a recent PNW rainy gray day, this post appeared in my Threads:

I loved it. It reminded me of my years visiting TAI in their wonderful old building housing their executive coaching studio.

But who is this Thomas W. Schaller dude. I was able to track back through threads to his website: thomas w schaller artist-architect-author-nyc or I guess his real website.

I was enthralled with his watercolor paintings from all over the world.

And he has a book of his prints. Search. Click. Amazon. Click. Ordered and shipped.

I ordered the book immediately because of the tag line: “Architect of light.” This phrase captures what I see in the world and try to capture with a camera.

I was expecting lots of watercolor paintings. Even better there is text to provide some context.

“The hierarchy of ‘building blocks’ I use most often in the design of my paintings is comprised of four considerations.  In order they are: Story, Composition, Value and Color.” p. 30

In the next few pages, Schaller explains each.  In all my study of art, these building blocks and their descriptions are the most succinct and understandable I have encountered.

Yet, this quote stopped me in my tracks:

“Try not to paint the scenes and objects in front of you. Try to paint the light that illuminates and gives them life.” – p.52

“Paint the light that illuminates.”  In my blog post “Why I/We Travel” that is what I try to do with my camera.  I never come close, but I keep trying. 

Capture the light that illuminates.

Capturing the light is what I so desperately wanted to do at the Sagrada Familia.  The stained glass windows filtered the dancing light in magical ways:

In the Lake Como cathedral, I had to change my focus to see either the beauty of the cathedral, or the brilliant hillside of Brunate.

Which is the light that illuminates? Which story should I tell? What are the values I should focus on?

When I travel I am drawn to the light of the day.

Thank you Thomas W. Schaller, Architect of Light, for providing words and examples of the stories I try to express with my words and my photographs.

“If I could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.” – Edward Hopper

Or to take a photograph.