Commentary by Ron Moss
Haiga Showcase: Dian Duchin Reed
Dian’s haiga burst with colour. A large font dominates nearly a third of each image, projecting Dian’s voice, and the photographs tantalise with their strong textual elements:
• The rooster is impressive, with a minimal black background and subtle filters that highlight the bird’s impressive foliage. Nothing meek about this bird. The senryu captures its bold stance.
• The strong image of old nails hammered deep into weathered wood connects with the “lost loves” poem—a wonderful juxtaposition.
• The coloured pencil on concrete and the painted metal surface subtly connect with and deepen the emotions of the haiku and senryu.
Dian boldly achieves a collection of fine haiga that demand to be read and savoured. You can learn more about her work at dianduchinreed.com.
Dian explains in her own words:
I started my career as a photojournalist, because of my fondness for words and images. When I discovered haiga, I was enchanted—juxtaposing the two is more than mere addition, it’s a multiplication of communication. I usually start with a photo, explore its possibilities in Photoshop, and then meditate on the image until a haiku suggests itself. The whole process is as much fun as dancing.
