This Salisbury University bench poem began with a moment of stillness.
One morning on campus, I paused—and in doing so, I found something quietly extraordinary…
Lichen and Light — Where Time Takes a Seat by SB Studios Summer 2025
(to capture trace) in lichen hush and rustlight
Photography and Poem by Steven B. Bergman
Sometimes it’s not the grand vista that stays with you, but the quiet. The overlooked. The place where time has settled in moss and metal and waited, patient, for someone to notice.
I found this bench on the campus of Salisbury University in Maryland. Worn. Forgotten. Absolutely beautiful. The kind of beauty that doesn’t shout, but hums. I didn’t stage the shot. The light, the color, the textures, all were already there. All I had to do was stop and be present.
And in doing so, I captured this moment, not just with a camera, but in verse.
This poem was written in the spirit of E. E. Cummings, whose approach to language mirrors the way this bench sits in the world: humble, alive, and quietly rebellious. The lines reflect SB Studios’ guiding principle:
“Being in the moment lets you capture the moment”.
Through weathered wood and lichen crust, I saw memory. Through shadow and slanting sun, I saw breath. What we capture isn’t always what’s new, it’s what’s true.
Technical Details:
- Location: Salisbury University, Maryland
- Camera: Nikon D6
- Lens: NIKKOR 24–70mm f/2.8
- Settings: f/4.5, 1/250s, ISO 200
- Editing Notes: Selective color applied to highlight natural lichen and patina; background desaturated to isolate subject focus
- Poetry Style: Freeform, minimalist, inspired by E. E. Cummings’ structure and philosophy
Behind the Lens:
Art doesn’t always require spectacle. Sometimes, it just requires noticing. That’s the heartbeat of SB Studios, noticing deeply, then sharing honestly. Whether it’s a cathedral in Paris, a hawk in flight, or a decaying bench on a college path, I try to ask: What does this moment want to say? Then I let it speak.
