Fall 2025

146 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 5 to Monterey around 2017. Enamored of and inspired by the peninsula, he took up photogra- phy again in a more serious manner. “I realized what made shooting here so satisfying,” he says.“In addition to this area’s natural beauty, the marine layer constantly coming in and out and the fragmented clouds that we have dampen the sun and diffuse the light. The only place I’ve seen light like that is Florence, where the light has inspired artists for cen- turies.” He published a book of images paired with prose, “Fragments of Light: A Medley of Vision & Verse” in 2025. Beautifully rendered, the book is a mat- uration of that technique he developed for those Facebook posts earlier. Stunning images are accompanied by thoughtful and stirring prose, the subjects of which are derived from many seemingly stream of con- sciousness sources. “Sometimes, inspiration for the stories comes from random encounters. I was on a bike ride in Pacific Grove one day and saw a thin, gaunt older man walking along, gaz- ing over the bay. His clothes were literally hang- ing off him. He had a huge smile on his face, his eyes all alive and sparkling. And I just knew that, you know, for him, life was short, and he didn’t have time anymore to worry about the world’s problems. He was just immersed in the pure joy of being alive.” “When I released the book, it was accompanied by an exhibition of the photos, held at Temple Gallery in Sand City. The show was part of Carmel’s Center for Photographic Arts’ ‘PhotoCarmel: A Celebration of Photography on the Central Coast.’That was a great honor.” Robert Feist also exudes that joy the man on the beach had. He’s led a remarkable life so far in the recording industry and he’s excited to be on this new creative path. For more information on Robert Feist, his work and his book, visit www.robertfeist.com . Wildlife, flowers and nature are favorite subjects of Feist’s painterly compositions, appearing in most images. Photo: Kelli Uldall Following a long and distinguished career in the recording industry in Los Angeles, Feist opted for the slower pace of life afforded by the Monterey area and follows his muse in photography and prose.