LAURA STRADIOTTO

The Sudbury Star

Thursday, May 23, 2013 6:09:56 EDT AM

As one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, La Cloche Mountains is a source of inspiration for many artists, including photographer Jon Butler.

A zen practitioner and retired newspaper executive, Butler lives in the village of Willisville in the heart of La Cloche.

He has enjoyed and captured the beauty of the landscape through his camera lens for decades.

Butler’s latest book of photography, La Cloche Spirit Contemplating Beginner’s Mind, “is about learning,” he writes in the book’s introduction.

“Learning about photography and photographs that communicate with the viewer. Learning about life and beauty that awaits us every, single day. Learning about a path that leads to everyone’s Willisville Mountain.”

Each photograph in the book is accompanied by a personal reflection in the form of a haiku poem like “A beginner’s mind sees the endless beauty in a blade of grass.”

An autographed copy of the book and a limited edition photograph are available together as the La Cloche Spirit package. The package is available at the Art Gallery of Sudbury and Turners in Little Current for $180.

Butler’s photographs are in private and corporate collections in Canada and the U.S. They have appeared in numerous publications, books, newspaper and even album covers.

La Cloche Spirit and Butler’s other books are available at http://www.blurb.ca.

For more information about Jon Butler and his work, go to http://www.jonbutlerphoto.com.