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Eva Timothy discusses her photography project, Lost in Learning, which explores the idea of a modern educational Renaissance through a visual investigation of the previous one.

Timothy asks if genius could be less a matter of genetics than of passion and perspective. She wonders what the profound secret was that led the great minds of the Renaissance to such astonishing breakthroughs and discoveries during a time when information was comparatively limited.

The core of the project is a collection of black and white photographs that offer a unique glimpse of great historical figures alongside their manuscripts and various artifacts of exploration (courtesy of Harvard University's Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments). Visual narratives portrayed in the collection include a prism creatively placed upon Isaac Newton's book on Opticks to refract the word "Light," and a collage in which Galileo gazes fondly upon his sketch of the moon.

The sfumato nuances within these mono-color photographs convey the aura of mystery and wonder often associated with the Renaissance. Yet, the imagery also brings these larger-than-life figures down to a level where the everyday learner can relate. This is a message that Eva Timothy enthusiastically voices during her frequent visits with schools, libraries and universities as she urges learners of all ages to make the most out of life through a positive, take-charge perspective on education.