Jay Mullineaux | Fine Art Photographer

One of the best parts of my day is my morning walks with my four-legged girls.  These walks are a staple in our daily life - kind of like the old post office motto, neither snow, rain, nor heat stops us from making our daily rounds.  It’s less about dedication and more about self-preservation, as anyone who’s lived with two energetic Labradors will appreciate. However, no matter the weather or how tired I may be in those pre-dawn hours, these walks feel effortless, and it’s where I’m most at peace and feel like myself. 

It’s during these walks that I’ll occasionally notice what feels like a “blinking light” in the distance begging for a closer look.  Something’s out of place, something wasn’t there yesterday, or perhaps a pattern has been interrupted.  Of course, while I’m trying to investigate whatever caught my eye, I’m also being pulled in every direction because someone spotted a squirrel, a rabbit, or another dog’s signature on a mailbox.  Once I get the goof-troop to refocus, we can finally move in for a closer look. 

Once we arrive, I’ll discover what caught my eye: a shopping bag that blew into a neighbor’s yard, a newly planted shrub, or a burned-out bulb in a row of landscape lights.  Not exactly as remarkable as discovering King Tut’s tomb, but more like finding a little Easter egg hidden in plain sight. 

When I grab my camera, I approach the day with that same sense of curiosity and adventure, never quite knowing what I’ll find.  Some of the most fascinating subjects I’ve found are things we walk past every day; weathered walls, rust, peeling paint, old windows and aging architecture.  Of course, spotting something interesting and actually getting close enough to photograph it can be two entirely different adventures. 

Sometimes I’ll strike gold and walk right into a beautiful, aged wall with layers of peeling paint just begging to be photographed.  I think that happened twice.  More often, whatever catches my eye seems to be on the other side of four lanes of downtown traffic, leaving me to contemplate another round of “Frogger” to investigate.  After enough of these adventures, I finally called my insurance agent about coverage for my camera gear.  A wise investment, if I may say so. 

Still, after all those gymnastics, I can’t help wanting to see what caught my attention in the first place.  Granted, sometimes it’s just a piece of gum someone stuck to a wall, and I find myself thinking, “Well, isn’t that lovely?”

But when something does catch my attention, I love creating a little world within my camera’s viewfinder and discovering what can be revealed simply by moving a few inches in one direction or another.  Cracks can become valleys, lines break into unexpected patterns, and rust and peeling paint take on a life of their own.   

And the process doesn’t end when I put the camera away.  Back in the studio, I continue exploring the image, refining what caught my eye and deciding what belongs in the final composition. 

Thanks for taking a moment to wander through my world.  If you’re curious to see what else I’ve discovered, you’re welcome to drift a little further down the rabbit hole with me.

Explore more of my work

Additional photographs and collections can be found on the Glass and Behance links found below.