Photographer’s Work Takes You Through The Seasons

James Bullock stands in front of some of his work at the Oskaloosa Art Center.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – For James Bullock, capturing nature is an escape from his daily world, and is therapy for him.

Bullock is the owner of Cloverleaf Photography by James and has been in business for the past four years, but he started out doing portrait photography, including weddings, seniors, and family portraits. “And I really got into landscape and nature.”

Bullock has his work on display at the Oskaloosa Art Center now through the end of February, and his work will take you on a journey through the seasons as you walk through the show.

“Last winter I was bored out of my mind sitting at home, so I just grabbed my camera, and I was driving around parks, and I was seeing all these dead plants, with various contrast and forms to them, and it just caught my eye,” said Bullock. “So I just started taking pictures of them.

“As winter went away and spring came, I started to see a little bit more color,” added Bullock as he looks across the walls of his work.

“When I’m out shooting nature, it’s my escape from my busy world. It’s my therapy,” says Bullock. “If I see something that catches my eye, that’s where I focus, that’s my moment.”

Bullock will then photograph his chosen subject extensively, from many angles, spending the time to capture the moment. “It’s a fun process. It allows me to express myself in nature, just forgetting the crazy world out there. Just being alone in the quiet,” says Bullock.

Summer and winter are his two favorite seasons to photograph. Summer for its color, while winter allows for the black and white contrast, but summer is ultimately his favorite time to shoot.

In the evening, it’s not uncommon to find Bullock chasing the sunset. “I’ve always been a nature guy. I’ve always loved being outside.”

Bullock says that his grandfather is the one that helped him discover those sunsets, and helped him to develop his eye. “He was always pointing out to me the different colors in the sky and how they would mingle. The clouds and how they would roll.”

Now chasing those sunsets, Bullock says he has thousands and thousands of different sunsets. “A lot of my friends and my family said, ‘you either need to sell these or start your own business or do something,'” said Bullock.

Bullock now has the opportunity to pursue a passion, while being able to take advantage of those moments of solace in nature.

For Bullock, the show is a great opportunity to meet new people, sharing and enjoying his work with them.

Bullocks work is on display until the end of February at the Oskaloosa Art Center, located at 115 1st Ave West.