Usher Gallery Opening

With a focus on Sonoma and Petaluma, this exhibit explores the interplay of light, nature, and life, as documented by beloved photographer Robert Watson. In his first solo exhibition, Watson presents large-format photography that captures the fleeting yet profound beauty woven into everyday moments—a testament to the extraordinary nature of our world.

Watson's photography exists at the crossroads of wild spaces and human presence. In a time when concrete and screens dominate our landscapes, the raw, untamed beauty of nature is often overlooked—fading into the periphery of our lives. Yet, nature endures. It is a force both resilient and fragile, a reminder of our deep connection to the earth and to our own humanity.

"I am drawn to light—especially in the morning or in the quiet aftermath of a storm. These moments of transition, when golden light spills across the horizon or filters through the forest canopy, feel like a whisper from the universe. I think of it as “spirit light”—a fleeting, luminous reminder that nature holds healing, wonder, and wisdom. It asks nothing of us but to pause, to witness, to feel. Through my lens, I seek to capture this essence—the unseen yet ever-present force that lingers beyond the grasp of those who rush past it.

A lifelong naturalist, I have been called a survivor, an inspiration, even a hero. But at my core, I am simply an observer—one who believes that the beauty of this world deserves to be seen."

For more about my journey, visit my blog.