Escape the constraints of ordinary experience. 

Focus on nature's symmetry, texture, pattern, color and

the balance of complexity and simplicity.

Slow down, pay attention, watch the light on the landscape. 

Let it inspire passion within you. 

Allow your mind to wander to extraordinary places.

(A. Gazzaley - NYC - 1999)

Welcome

Too many of us, absorbed in the intricacies of modern society do not take the time to slow down, pay attention and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us. We do not allow our focus to wander and explore our surroundings. We often permit nature itself to become white noise in our busy lives, neglecting it until it blurs into the background.

When we do pause and attend to the moment, the natural world can have an amazing impact on our minds. From visions of elegant simplicity to extraordinary complexity, it can displace us from the burdens and routines in our everyday lives. It can elevate us to a higher place, restore the excitement of childhood discovery and instill a sense of clarity, inner purpose and harmony with the universe.

I invite you to come wander and share my personal vision of the world. I truly hope that my images help you step out of your day and see things in different light. More so, I hope that you will be inspired to pursue your own wanderings and discover your own unique vision.

I truly hope you enjoy visiting Wanderings and return in the future to watch it evolve. Thank you.

(A. Gazzaley - somewhere over S. Pacific - 2001)
Adam discovered his love for nature photography in April 1997 when he read Galen Rowell’s Mountain Light. His uncle, upon noticing this nascent interest, gave him his 1968 Nikkormat to set him on his way. Over the next two decades, Adam explored the world and developed his unique vision and expression of nature, which integrated with his evolving scientific perspective on the human brain and mind. He learned that at their core they were really the same thing to him: A search for organization and beauty in nature. Along the way, he started Wanderings Inc. (2000) and comewander.com (2001) to share his images and sell fine art prints. In 2006, he wound down the business to focus on the formation of his neuroscience laboratory at UCSF. New images had not been posted until the re-launch of comewander.com at the end of 2017, now featuring a collection of images presented in three galleries representing each decade of his photography jounrey.
Untitled photo
Adam Gazzaley, M.D., Ph.D. is the David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry at the UCSF, and the Founder & Executive Director of Neuroscape , a translational neuroscience center engaged in technology development and scientific research of novel cogntive assessment and enhancement approaches. Dr. Gazzaley is also co-founder and Chief Science Advisor of Akili, a company developing therapeutic video games, and JAZZ Venture Partners, a venture capital firm investing in experiential technology to improve human performance. He has filed multiple patents; most notably his invention of the first video game cleared by the FDA as a medical treatment. He has authored over 170 scientific articles and delivered over 700 invited presentations around the world. He is the host of a PBS special “The Distracted Mind” and co-author of the award-winning “The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World”.

I

Decade 1: 1997 - 2006


Fuji, New Zealand, Costa Rica

US: NY, Utah, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, Colorado, California,  Hawaii, Alaska, Maine, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Montana, Wyoming, Washington


Contax 167MT; Fuji Velvia; Nikon scanner; Zeiss 28-85, 70-210, 500 mirror Tamron 60-300; 17 mm

II

Decade 2: 2007 - 2016


Canada, Turkey, Greece, S. Africa, China, Ecuador

US: NY, Utah, California (Coast, Yosemite), Hawaii,



Nikon D300: 12-24, 24-70, 80-400, 105

III

Decade 3: 2017 - 2022 


Iceland (x2), Japan, Australia, Tonga, New Zealand, Mongolia, Kenya, Zimbabwe

US: Hawaii, California (Joshua Tree, Death Valley), Utah (Zion, Bryce), Arizona (Grand Canyon)



Nikon D500: 10-24, 24-70, 80-400, 105

White Noise

Our reality is merely perception. It is a representation of our surroundings that we construct based on our sensory input. This reality that we have created, indeed which has evolved, allows us to successfully adapt and survive on this world. However, we often forget that our senses reveal only fragmented glimpses of the universe. They create for us a small, neat, circumscribed world, complete with its sights, sounds, tastes and textures, which appears to exist independent of ourselves. Its richness and diversity help perpetuate this delusion. It is easy to ignore the fact that we are denied the grand view of the complexity that exists around us. Our perception reveals but one limited interpretation of infinite reality.

As illuminating as awareness of our limitations may appear, the most important realization is not the limitations of our senses, but rather the restricted use of our senses. We have become too comfortable and successful at muffling our sensory input. Our impressive ability to focus our attention has converted our natural world into "white noise". As we have evolved to become less reliant on our senses for survival, and ever more concerned with our inner worlds, we face the danger of further constricting our already limited view of our natural surroundings. Our reality, though clearly bounded, could truly be spectacular. If we can rediscover the power of our senses through practice and patience, an appreciation for the inspiring beauty of nature will follow. We will expand our reality.

(A. Gazzaley - Penn - 2000)

All images and content Copyright Adam Gazzaley

Please write to adamgazz@comewander.com to request usage permission

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