“Long before I knew from science that there is no fundamental distinction or separation between matter and spirit, I sensed it from my own experience. I realized it more consciously for the first time when I used a macro lens to peer through some tall grasses with my camera.”

Freeman Patterson is acclaimed as one of the most distinguished photographers of the natural world. His verdant landscapes, sun-drenched deserts, and spectral images of human habitation reach toward us, touch us, and stir our hearts. Embracing Creation is an inspired journey through the renowned artist’s creative process, vision, and experience.

Curator and art historian Tom Smart’s opening essay peels away layers of mystique and reveals the soul of the man and his unique way of seeing, providing for the first time a complete portrayal of Patterson’s œuvre. In his own words, Freeman Patterson candidly reveals the evolution of his creative techniques and the experiences that have shaped both his vocation and his life. For Patterson, there is no separation between mind and matter: life, the mind, and nature are fully conjoined. Published in conjunction with a major retrospective exhibition organized by the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Embracing Creation gives readers and viewers privileged access to an abundantly intelligent universe as perceived through the lens of one of Canada’s most outstanding photographers.

“To try to describe Patterson’s images is almost impossible except to say that he manages to pull the essence out of his subject and present it in a way that makes you exclaim, ‘I never saw it like that!’ And, that is where his creative exploration of our surroundings and subjects lure you in and capture your soul. He shares with you his experiences and his vision — his unique way of seeing and relating with nature. This magnificent book with its stunning imagery brings together Patterson’s belief that life, mind and nature meld into one. It is a joy to read and a profound feast for the eyes and will surely spark the reader to experiment and explore their own creativity.”
– ApogeePhoto.com

“[T]he total collection confirms — if there was need — that Patterson is not only one of Canada’s finest artists, but one of international stature.”
– The Guardian

“Over 100 stunning images complemented by Patterson’s lucid prose make Freeman Patterson: Embracing Creation… a volume to be treasured, for the sheer beauty of the photography and for the thoughtfully presented holistic theory of art.”
– Atlantic Books Today

“This beautifully crafted volume of images is not typical of most nature photography books that illustrate places and things. Instead, Patterson’s work draws you in to the delicate qualities of life and the relation between matter and spirit.”
– Winnipeg Free Press

“Freeman [Patterson] has changed how we think, how we view, and how we make our photographs.”
“Freeman Patterson breathes life, love, and happiness into the art of making pictures.”