William Sutherland's photos with the keyword: Love

Note: Created from a photo of Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY (taken 26 October 2014) and a photo of a Halloween display, Mamaroneck, NY (taken on 29 October 2024) Death is... not the end. Our final breath in this life is simply a doorway into an eternal future… [Psalm 16:11] Love is stronger than death even though it can’t stop death from happening… [Yet] no matter how hard death tries it can’t separate people from love. [Unknown] [L] ove never dies. It endures and lives on forever… [1 Corinthians 13:7-8] [and] is… the only thing which God permits us to carry beyond the grave. [Theodore Dreiser]

Newark, NJ With this being Mother's Day weekend and Newark, NJ having some of the highest crime rates especially with violent crimes, I thought the themes were fitting. May love prevail so there's no more senseless deaths and needless mourning especially among mothers who lose their children way too soon.

Mamaroneck, NY

Created from Photographing British and Canadian Paper Currency Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) who had the longest reign in British history will go down in history as universally loved and one of the greatest monarchs because of her enduring faith, courage, and a life that had dedicated to service, generosity and benevolence. Because of her refusal to inject politics into her rule, she served as a bridge to bring peace, tolerance and understanding. May God continue to save the Queen as she lives in eternity attested to by the double rainbow above Buckingham Palace upon her passing. And despite the rupture of relations under her great grandfather King George III (1738-1820) and the consequent American Revolution (1775-1784), there is no greater friendship and fraternity than that between the USA and Great Britain an indelible testament that no rift is too great to forgive and no wound too great that it cannot be healed. May God save and guide King Charles III as he begins his reign during this period of mourning and these uncertain times where the hearts of so many have grown hard and cold. Only a thaw and willingness to listen, understand and respect can bridge the great chasms between peoples and nations and bring much needed healing and peace. And today as we here in the USA also somberly remember 9/11 as we mourn the Queen's passing, we are reminded her 9/11 message that "Grief is the price we pay for love." Finally, it is reassuring to remember the message in Isaiah 61:2 that God "comfort [s] all who mourn" and that our "grief will be turned into joy." [John 16:20]

New York, NY Note: Iconic sculpture created by Robert Indiana (1928-2018). Located on the corner of 55th Street and 6th Avenue. First displayed in New York City in 1970.

Betsy Sluder Nature Preserve, Armonk, NY

Wakiki Beach, Wakiki, Oahu, Hawai’i This digital composition was created from garbage and litter found on Wakiki Beach along with an untarnished Pua Melia blossom that had fallen from the branches above. The title Edena was selected because Hawai’i is a “paradise” on earth and delightful refuge from many of the world’s problems. The chosen colors are filled with symbolism. Green (Omao) represents compassion, refreshment, the abundance of lush plants that cover the Hawai’ian Islands and well as life and love since per the Hawai’ian proverb, “Hāʻawi ke aloha i ke ola i loko” – “Love gives life within.” The eight red (ula’ula) dots on the domino represent the eight Hawai’ian Islands and the lava from the volcanic activity that had created them as well as passion. The splotches of yellow (melemele) represent the refreshing wind that comes off the Pacific as well as the Island of Oahu. The pastel whites (keʻokeʻo) and browns (palaunu) represent the sands on Hawai’ia’s coasts while the splotches of black (eleʻele) represent lava rock and black sand newly created by the continuous and active volcanic activity of the islands. The tinge of blue (polu) in the capital letter “B” represents the nearby ocean as well as health. At the same time, the Pua Melia (Plumeria) on the left is the floral symbol of Hawai’I used to create leis, that represents new beginnings, beauty, forgiveness, and life. The peach coloration on the Pua Melia represent comfort, warmth, and joy – which are epitomized by the smiling face. Finally the Japanese characters on the discarded chop sticks and product label represent harmony and cultural diversity based on the Hawi'ian saying, "Aloha does not discriminate!" With that said, “Aloha i nā mea āpau āu e ʻike ai a mau a mau ke aloha” – “Love all that you see and may our love last forever.”

Mamaroneck, NY Abstract work created from various discarded objects – pieces of a broken incandescent light bulb, a microwave door with intact patterned glass, an electrical outlet cover and wires. The title denotes the color red from the French word rouge . The dominate red color in conjunction with the various circles represent enduring love (in fact according to the Urban dictionary, a rouge “is the sweetest person you will ever meet… a person who will always love you…” regardless of circumstances and individual flaws, someone whom should be cherished and something worth pursuing), lasting health, which is so relevant during these pandemic times, and eternal life. The abundance of red also represents passion, strength and fortitude. At the same time, the outlet cover represents a means of release since it is within each of us to unleash love, passion and good and in doing so, beautifying the planet in the same way cosmetics beautify the face. Also, considering rouge, is also a powder used to polish glass, metal and gems, the metal microwave oven door with its intact glass and the diamond pattern in the center of this work are fitting. At the same time, the splashes of earthen tones and green reinforce the concept of life and its preciousness. Last, the happy face represents the joy red represents through love, vitality, and good health.

Created from Photograph taken at Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY No one takes my life from me. I lay it down of my own accord. [John 10:18] By grace you have been saved. [Ephesians 2:8] …death shall be no more. [Revelation 21:4] The old has passed away; behold the new has come. [2 Corinthians 5:17]

Created from photos taken in Greenwich, CT, Larchmont, NY, New Rochelle, NY and Jacksonville, FL. from 9 July 2019-15 December 2019.

Mamaroneck, NY Note: Circles was created using the contents of a discarded bag of plastic rings and other circular objects found in discarded garbage. Each and every circle, including those that are less visible (since sometimes the hidden, the unnoticed, the unappreciated and the unsung have the greatest beauty and the greatest contribution to offer!) – represent the infinite and eternity. It is up to each of us to create and define the indelible record of our existence for good before we pass onto eternity. The face represents joy from acts of kindness, deeds of good and most importantly love, the latter attribute that should be the center of every circle. This photograph is black and white since the circles and the face do not need color to stand out and express their message. Considering this photograph was taken during the waning days of summer here in Mamaroneck, NY, a coastal village on the Long Island Sound in the Northern Hemisphere, fragments of the lyrics of Belinda Carlisle’s 1987 hit song, Circle in the Sand are fitting – “Walking through the summer’s end… Waves crash… Tide moves in, shivers in the salty air…” with fitting advice, also from the same song – “Don’t look back… Some things are forever…” Love is forever; therefore let us remember and cherish good times together with family and friends since our temporal existence here on Earth is so fragile and fleeting and let the inspirational quote below serve as a fitting example – “…love a little deeper, laugh a little louder, hold the ones you love a little tighter [b] ecause tomorrow is never promised.” [Anonymous]

Mamaroneck, NY Note: This abstract was created using discarded garbage and litter consisting of plastic debris, a rubber spacer ring, red foam heart, broken tiles and lima beans. When I created this work, I intended to break numerous rules, starting with the title Cela , inscribed on one of the broken tiles, which is derived from the French contraction Ce + là , which means “That.” In this case “That” is 1 John 4:8 and 16 – “God is Love.” Accordingly, the heart that represents God’s unconditional, unfailing and unending love based on Psalm 136:26: “Give thanks to God… for His steadfast love endures forever” was converted into a colorless heart because in reality His sacred heart is immaculate and pure and untarnished by even the slightest ill, evil and negativity, the black spacer ring that represents light and eternity maintained its color despite conventional views since black too as does every color, connotes brightness and goodness. The cross represents God’s great sacrifice that broke the chains of death while the widespread red represents God’s passion and love exhibited so clearly when He gave his life for each and every one of us and the power of the Holy Spirit that guides, inspires, purifies and sustains our existence – “And there appeared to them tongues as of fire…” [Acts 2:3] “to purify…” [Titus 2:14] and , based on Psalm 51:10 “create in [each of us] a clean heart." The faint wavy flows symbolize rebirth to eternity based on John 3:5 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” All of us are body (75% of water) and soul! The lima beans represent seeds of faith based on the parable found in Luke 17:5-6: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’ and it will obey you” while the simplicity proclaims the words of Matthew 11:30 – “ [M] y yoke is easy and M y burden is light.” Finally, the face represents the blissful attainment of eternal life in the presence of God captured by Psalm 16:11: “In Your presence is fullness of joy.”

Mamaroneck, NY Created from the inside of a discarded dryer. The pulley wheel at the top represents COVID-19. The black areas represent the darkness of the pandemic and mourning. The gray splotches represent uncertainty complemented by the abstract linear patterns that represent the many unexpected turns in life. The soft pastel pinks and yellows represent the light of a new dawn just before the sun rises above the horizon since we still await this sunrise when the pandemic recedes. The earthen tones represent life and recovery for through it all we will persevere and LIVE! The vibrant reds represent love, fortitude and renewal for through love and the fact we are “human strong” we shall overcome. The face represents the day our “sorrow will be turned to joy” [John 16:20] and the pandemic is nothing more than a distant memory.

Larchmont, NY Note: This composition was created to promote awareness and provide images of precautionary supplies. While N-95 rated face masks (the only face masks manufactured to protect against airborne pathogens) are not needed at this time in much of the world, hand sanitizer and good hygiene are a good idea to prevent its spread as well as that of seasonal flu, the latter whose casualties rarely make the headlines. The rose, heart, and color scheme were used since Valentine's Day, the international day of love, falls in February and because love should be the pre-eminent approach to everything.

Marshlands Conservancy, Rye, NY

Mamaroneck, NY Note: I created this image using discarded garbage that consisted of broken glass, broken glass, a pair of spoons and other debris. I created the title since the two spoons represent the fatigue and mental anguish we can experience during trying times symbolized by the chaos of the broken plastic and glass, and selected the main rouge/red color to represent humanity, life, renewal and most importantly love. The circle represents continuity and the eternal nature of life while the white colors of the broken glass bits represent light and goodness. The fact we are all saved through universal salvation – goodness to be celebrated since the darkness of death cannot keep us within its grasp is sufficient reason to rejoice represented by the tiny happy face.

New Rochelle, NY Note: Featuring a statue of Buddha and a Ladybug that represents the preciousness of life, all of which is intrinsically priceless, unique and special. Because of this, the ladybug is represented in color within a heart that symbolizes the love we ought to have for life. Associated Article: Even a Bug's Life Matters -- www.ipernity.com/blog/285927/4727304

Mamaroneck, NY Note: This image was created using vibrant red colors, and garbage featuring hearts. Each piece of garbage featuring a heart was replicated so that no heart is solitary and alone since love relies on another to love. The numerous spacer rings represent eternal love and the face represents happiness since when there is true love, happiness is perfected and blissful. Happy Valentine's Day to all!