Photography by Elliott Appel

Ansel Adams once stated, "A photography is usually looked at - seldom looked into." So, I invite you to take a deeper look into my photographs. I am challenging you to find a particular part of any image and somehow relate it to your life. My goal is to create photos with meaning; photographs that are able to persuade you to cry, laugh hysterically, be filled with ecstasy, joy, fury, hopefulness and cheer.

Pictures can tell a story, uncover a secret, communicate an emotion and provide a means of an escape. Often times people search for the story within the picture, but they fail to realize their story in the image. We all are blinded by the desire to "understand" a work of an art. For me, "understanding" a piece of work is nothing more than imagining yourself in an image. You explore the environment, listen for the sounds, touch the textures, interact with people, and become a part of the scene. When you can dream what the picture would have been like for you at that moment in time, you are able to bring the true meaning of the photo to life.