~ The backroads of Delaware county ~

Eric Houck, Jr.

Review by Aurora Antonovic:

The backroads of delaware county consists of forty pages of outstanding contemporary haiga by photographer/writer Eric Houck, Jr.

Contemporary haiga is digital art, or photography, coupled with a short form Japanese poem, such as haiku or senryu. However, the appeal of this book is not limited to those merely interested in the Japanese form.

Each photograph in Mr. Houck's book is a black-and-white study in rural simplicity. Whether the subject matter is a pond, a road, or an old milk can,the manner in which Mr. Hock's lens captures the image is art.

The images themselves promote quietness and serenity. The road shots are taken in such a way that the observer almost experiences a tranquil, country walk. The angles are inviting, the overviews calming, so much so that the book itself seems to be an open invitation to experience the simpler times of Delaware County.

Some of the haiku in this book have appeared in first-rate Japanese form poetry journals, such as Frog Pond, The Heron's Nest, or Modern Haiku. The haiku and senryu can easily stand alone, but together with these detailed, rich photographs, the presentation becomes outstanding.

Eric Houck, Jr.'s work has appeared in The New Yorker, Jack and Jill, and Child Life, but with the backroads of delaware county, he invites you to enjoy the peace and tranquility of his own generation-rich Walton, New York.

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