Lev L. Spiro's 'Thin Places' Photography Explores Sacred Landscapes

Photographer and film/TV director Lev L. Spiro discusses his series 'Thin Places' and 'Elemental' in an interview with Feature Shoot. Spiro explains that 'thin places' are locations from Celtic spiritual tradition where the boundary between the ordinary and spiritual worlds is believed to be thin. He first encountered such feelings during his summers at a wilderness camp in Vermont. His work aims to evoke mood and emotion rather than simply describe a place, influenced by photographers Minor White, Paul Caponigro, and Sam Abell. Spiro teaches a sold-out class 'Thin Places: Photography and the Sacred in Nature' at Santa Fe Workshops, emphasizing heightened perception and openness. He notes that thin places are often stumbled upon and can be recognized by interesting light or a sense of being 'stopped' by a scene. He respects the natural world and leaves no trace, also being mindful of Indigenous spiritual beliefs. His latest series 'Elemental' uses long exposures to capture running water and clouds, while 'Thin Places' images were mostly taken two hours after sunrise or before sunset. Spiro admits that recognizing thin places can be both annoying and wonderful, as it often disrupts his planned shooting. The interview includes photographs with captions such as 'The Glen', 'The Discussion', 'The Stand', 'The Secret', 'Cathedral', 'Ascension', 'The Nave', and 'Portal'.