New photobook gives a ‘peculiar’ view of Forest Park

For photographer Jessica Page, being behind the digital camera has been part of her life since she was a baby. Her mom was a portrait photographer, and in serving to together with her work Page fell in love with capturing pictures of individuals of their greatest ingredient.

Page has taken portraits for the previous 15 years. But about two years in the past she turned her lens from human topics to vegetation. In August, Page launched “Silver Lining” – a 36-page magazine-style assortment of full-color pictures from her walks by means of Forest Park.

The pictures embrace up-close pictures of shiny, spherical berries, flowers mid-bloom and a few wider panorama views close to bridges and fountains. She describes many of those pictures as “peculiar.”

“Some of the things I was taking photos of appeal[ed] to me without me knowing what they were,” she defined. “I’m like, ‘That’s really fuzzy,’ or ‘That looks a little bit odd, but it’s standing out. It’s having a moment.’ I want to capture the moment, and I think if you’re looking at some of the images, you might find yourself being like, ‘What is that?’”

To obtain the shut seems in “Silver Lining,” Page taught herself macro images, a method of artistry using excessive zoom to seize the intricate particulars of the topic.

“I took the macro approach to focus on specific small elements within nature,” she stated. “Almost treating it like a portrait for that particular piece that I’m looking at, whether it be a flower or something that’s in the process of budding or a berry or a caterpillar, whatever it is.”

The e book additionally serves as her means of reminding viewers to take the chance to note what’s round them in nature and admire the liberty to disconnect that nature gives. Peace in nature is one thing Page sees as a “silver lining” in her personal life.

“I think that a lot of us today, with the internet, social media, the news, everything that’s going on in the world, we’re practicing disconnecting,” she stated. “And that is something I was doing with my time in the park. This is always available to me. I have found with feedback that viewing these images has been a silver lining in other people’s lives.”

Page designed and printed “Silver Lining” utilizing her abilities as a “former yearbook kid” to create the structure and movement of the e book.

“I learned what it’s like to design a book at a pretty early age,” she stated. “So self-publishing wasn’t too difficult of a task for me, but it made all the difference that I finally put something out after all this time for people to consume.” and the suggestions has been superb, surprising.”

She says that the suggestions, which has been “amazing and unexpected,” has resulted within the sale of practically 40 copies of the e book. For now, copies of the e book may be discovered at Butter Love Skin on Cherokee Street. Orders will also be positioned on Page’s website.

To hear extra in regards to the creation of “Silver Lining” and the position of “feel” in Page’s work as a photographer, hearken to “St. Louis on the Air” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or click on the play button under.

“St. Louis on the Air” brings you the tales of St. Louis and the individuals who reside, work and create in our area. The present is produced by Miya Norfleet, Emily Woodbury, Danny Wicentowski, Elaine Cha, Darrious Varner and Alex Heuer. The audio engineer is Aaron Doerr.