Through the use of chance, decision making is given up to natural processes. When applied to photography, the result is a unique image, like every stone or star is different from every other.

The Zen masters teach that each of us is the Buddha if we are willing to be true to our unique natures. Likewise, every sound or everything we see can be beautiful if we choose to see it for its own special qualities.

John Cage was inspired to use the chance operation approach to music composition (and his visual art work) through his study of Zen. His goals for his work were spiritual as well as artistic. Mine, too.

Like Cage, I primarily use the ancient Chinese oracle - the I Ching - as a tool to make choices when constructing a piece. Double exposures are made when the I Ching indicates one oracle number is in the process of changing into another.

The color pictures are shot on transparency film, scanned, then manipulated and ink-jet printed with archival inks on archival paper. The black and whites are conventional silver prints.

Several of the pieces or series contain fifteen images. This is because a roll of film for my camera can create up to fifteen frames.

Thank you for your interest in these pictures. Their worth is enhanced by your viewing of them.

- Jeff Mitchell