In Memoriam: Alan Sund

Alan Sund made stunning landscape photographs that exhibited a mastery of technique, a great eye for light, and (for anyone that knows anything about photography) the patience to get the right shot. Alan shot with a sensitive eye. In recent years, he pursued a more unique voice in his photography - to move beyond landscapes for sake of themselves to something profoundly deeper and more personal. He embraced an exploration of the philosophy of wabi-sabi in his art. It was a search for soul in his images.

As a contributing member of Maverick Photographers, Alan always strove to first understand the intent and motivation of a photographer before commenting on a photograph. He was careful, and considered, to offer only thoughtful and constructive commentary. It was this very purposeful and intentional approach to life that informed and drove his own photographic journey.

Alan passed away August 25, 2017, after a fierce year-long battle.

The philosophy of art is really important. It’s about the truth of something, about finding a beauty in everything. The beauty, the truth, in a grand landscape is obvious, but one has to look deeper to find and capture it in the mundane, or even the sad or tragic. That beauty is truth. Truth is beauty. The perfection of the imperfect.

I believe Alan found that in the last years of his life, and in a sense it brought him peace — while leaving behind a legacy of beautiful images.

–Dan Forzano