A photographer told me a story about a lens maker that prized Ontario sand over all others. This sand, the photographer told me, gave the glass a golden glow. The subjects in films and photographs where these lenses were employed also look special.I bought a Tamron lens from the 1980s. Tamron lenses have a golden softness to them, I find. You can count the elements by adding up the refractions in these photos. You can even ascertain the groups and the spaces between them. When I'm photographing, I often feel a peacefulness I don't experience often in my life. The sun's rays, especially at an oblique angle, bring everything to life in the same way: a solidarity of objects that are living or inanimate. As I began working with this Tamron lens the added aspect of all those refractions compounded this already peaceful feeling, like counting breaths in yoga.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/131adaa8-c64e-4f23-8d72-dbe54bde6379/0e7b4154-7991-4937-9358-680868029e36_rw_1200.jpg?h=5e299007f2f6683e71071ccdb8658869)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/131adaa8-c64e-4f23-8d72-dbe54bde6379/4165003a-fc66-4f26-80a2-7002bd2e94a7_rw_1200.jpg?h=20fe2f0713eec8b00198d738b706dc31)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/131adaa8-c64e-4f23-8d72-dbe54bde6379/fa66c4f4-e04a-49e7-a45a-9bc39980326d_rw_1200.jpg?h=1bb980bee9b24ee9de8ad62427c946d8)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/131adaa8-c64e-4f23-8d72-dbe54bde6379/515501d1-2d82-4ed0-9337-c7447feefd04_rw_1200.jpg?h=3b70ffb3a6b72f2e79d508b02f2b6b64)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/131adaa8-c64e-4f23-8d72-dbe54bde6379/184bed47-525b-46f0-8154-29cd976ae328_rw_1200.jpg?h=fbfb107842a2325e90692ca8150477d0)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/131adaa8-c64e-4f23-8d72-dbe54bde6379/347c6b7a-d6ee-4ba6-be8e-89ab8f4b43c7_rw_1200.jpg?h=d610d99c9e315b3dc00aaef135f233ed)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/131adaa8-c64e-4f23-8d72-dbe54bde6379/d050435d-0031-4cca-9438-85752b49bca6_rw_1200.jpg?h=e3ddba6a89bdce4150c7dc7529aae9da)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/131adaa8-c64e-4f23-8d72-dbe54bde6379/43143c48-9f77-4f32-b415-4a1886026614_rw_3840.jpg?h=1f96890f77327acb099202afa6b92fce)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/131adaa8-c64e-4f23-8d72-dbe54bde6379/97dd1245-50d0-46dd-819b-9ed3e23f3d5a_rw_3840.jpg?h=17e3db7189073a2f9e5e068ee05ee022)