For Elias, photography was about subtraction rather than addition. He loved the challenge of taking away the "masks of expression" to find something pure underneath—an absence that paradoxically revealed an interior beauty. This was the same philosophy he saw reflected in the professional exhibits he admired:
: Freezing a moment that would otherwise disappear forever. Taking the Leap gallery amateur
Inspiration often struck him at events like the EXPOSURE exhibit , where both amateur and professional photographers were invited to show their work side-by-side. He had often thought about submitting his own work to a juried exhibition like the International Photography Competition or a local contest like the one held by the Mount Airy Photography Club . For Elias, photography was about subtraction rather than
Inside story: the Duchess of Cambridge's 40th birthday portraits Taking the Leap Inspiration often struck him at
: Finding the extraordinary in the simple or even boring parts of life.