Hi, I’m Donna L Turner. Nice to meet you!
Here I am with my husband, Mark. You might be seeing some of his poetry from time to time, to accompany my photos.
We have been working together for over 50 years, mainly as co-founders of Horizon Gate Productions, an arts non-profit. We have produced live theater; from intimate house concerts to large outdoor events on college campuses, beaches, and even town squares in Europe.
Some of our other activities include teaching and leading workshops in writing, theater, and photography incorporated with Visio Divina. Our video work ranges from training to story telling to short art films.
All the while my love for photography has been growing and has been a source of joy and healing.
Backstory: in 2019 we moved to a house in the city after years living in the mountains just east of San Diego. This house has no dirt in the yard; only tile and decking. (sad face) But there is a canyon in the back that makes up for the lack of garden space. Tall eucalyptus trees tower over the canyon. And on the patio there are numerous pots with succulents and roses.
Only 4 months after arriving here, we were confined to this house by the 2020 lockdown. In an effort to retain my sanity, I began walking around the small front patio to see what beauty would appear right under my nose. With only a small space to explore, I discovered macro photography. This opened up new worlds of beauty.
I started walking the neighborhood, which was in places strewn with trash and weeds. But invariably I would see a beautiful flower peeking out from the depressing scene. Sometimes I would go up close and focus on the good part. Other times I would capture the total picture to accentuate the contrast.
Moral of the story – there is beauty to be found everywhere. You just have to look and look deeply. I hope you enjoy my photos and reflections, and that they encourage you to open your eyes to the beauty around you. I would love to hear your comments.