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Commentary by Ron Moss

Haiga Showcase: Jane Williams

By her own words, Jane likes to travel light with her tools of the trade. Still, we are left in awe of the fine landscapes she captures, both in finely crafted words and images. Her love of birds, particularly those in her native Tasmania, is particularly evident: They fly across the haiga and instantly draw us into the haiku.

• In “daydream,” a dead tree that “blossoms” with rowdy white cockatoos (or “cockies” as they are affectionately called). The haiku conveys this with a light touch.

• With “holding pattern,” we are once again in a bird’s world. Jane’s emotional haiku brings us closer to nature, of which we are all part.

• The beautiful haiga “first light” is a stunning achievement: It’s warm, inviting image of a bird in solitary flight, coupled with the simplicity of a one-line haiku, carries a powerful emotional impact.

• The wonderful watery reflections of “morning stroll” take us to a place of deep meditation and a feeling of time standing still. The smell of the salty sea makes this a treat for all the senses.

The riches that Jane brings in her haiga are ours for the savouring; we can walk where she has on her journey of lightness. Now more than ever, they offer a reminder to us all how much we are enriched by the natural world around us. You can find more of Jane’s work at janewilliams.wordpress.com.

Jane explains in her own words:

As part of my poetry writing practice, I have always been a note taker—jotting down ideas, often as I’m walking. Similarly, in recent years I’ve carried a small digital camera with me (currently a Canon G9X) to photograph images/moments I want to think about in more detail and depth over time. As a chronic light traveller, I require my “tools of the trade” to be small and lightweight—just there, just in case. . .

Recurring images in my work include birds, water reflections, and light and shadow. While the visual beauty of compositions might attract me initially, it’s the connection to universal human themes that moves me to combine a photo with haiku. I am most interested in aspects of the natural world that speak to humankind in some way. My preference is to use minimal photo editing tools.