Greetings!

We are pleased to announce publication of Sand Mirrors, a marriage of poetry by Zen teacher Richard Clarke and photographs by Stephen Strom.

We have created a Facebook page for the book which describes the origin both of the images in the book and the collaboration between Steve and Richard. There you may view a "movie trailer" which takes you through the iBook version of the book.

There is also a website for Sand Mirrors which gives more detailed information on the book and contains an audio of a conversation between Steve and Richard.

Richard Clarke's poems beckon the reader to explore the inner and outer richness of sand and ocean - richness beyond all imagination and dream. It speaks to fleeting and timeless patterns on Northern California and Oregon coasts, and through understated but powerful words, reminds us that all our life is now, and has nothing to do with transience or duration.

Stephen Strom's images - which might be called metaphorical photographs - were taken on a variety of beaches located in the Pacific Northwest coasts during 2007-2011. These beaches are notable for their relative isolation, expanse, stark uplifted and eroded rocks, backdrop of richly foliated coastal cliffs, and a variety of sandy minerals.

This compelling landscape was born in a cataclysmic collision of continental plates and vigorous vulcanism, and shaped over millennia by continuing tectonic activity, and the erosive power of the Pacific Ocean. Fresh water streams flow through many of these beaches, carrying silt and minerals seaward from the nearby coastal range. It is the merging of ocean sands and finely ground minerals at the interface of fresh water and ocean tides that creates patterns that evoke the seen and unseen rhythms of an ever-changing landscape, reshaped by wind, tide, and the pulse of the earth itself.

Together, the poems and images aspire to invite viewers to "quiet wonder at these few inches of sand that proclaim perfection" and to remind them in the words of Lao Tzu "to the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders."

ORDERING INFORMATION FOR SAND MIRRORS

Both an epub version for the iPad (and any other epub3 capable ereader) and for the Chrome browser having the Readium extension installed and a PDF version of the book are now available. The print version of the book is now available.

Purchase the print version of Sand Mirrors

Purchase the epub3 (iBook) version.

Purchase the rich media PDF version. (Requires the Adobe Reader version 9)

The Image Collective was founded in 2011 by three pioneers of the digital revolution. Combined, the three partners have over 50 years of experience in the fine-art printing arena. All of Stephen's images are printed on Alise Generations 260 gsm. Fine Art paper using Epson HDR Ultrachrome pigmented inks. This combination insures image stability that far exceeds the permanence of traditional chromogenic prints. Prints are tubed (maximum 3 prints per tube.) and shipped via U.S.P.S. Priority service and are delivered in 3-5 business days. Fedex Overnight, 2 day and ground services are also available.

For purchase of these images you may visit The Image Collective site for Sand Mirrors to browse through the available photographs. The images are ordered by either the title or first line of the associated page in the book.

Larger editioned prints of the images in this book can be ordered from the photographer through Stephen's website (www.stephenstrom.com) or through the website for the book (www.sandmirrors.com).