Landscapes Only!

abraxas · Dec 31, 2007

Usually the discussions I've seen regarding influential photographers (pardon the expression) degenerate into photographers that choose people for subjects. Really, some are quite excellent and intriguing, but what about those of us who have chosen another path- Landscapes only?

I've shot some people photos, but prefer being in the great outdoors and trying to form some kind of bond with nature. Of course nature and the wilderness is indifferent to my existance, but never unfaithful to it's indifference (paraphrase ~ Edward Abbey). I enjoy that.

I don't know (or care- am indifferent) if there others here that feel the same, but at this point I'm truly comfortable with just shooting landscapes. I realized this a couple years ago after looking at the work of Galen Rowell. Something clicked or snapped, busted real bad, or maybe even got fixed. But here's a gallery of the work that helped me gain some focus on what I'm trying accomplish.

http://mountainlight.com/gallery.west/images.html

I don't pour over the shots, but find them impressive. I do want to develop my own individual style, but the feel of these images I believe lie under my efforts.

There are others- but seeing Mr. Rowell's work is when the bone broke.

Anyone else have watershed moments?

kundalini · Dec 31, 2007

I have only discovered this mans work recently and have been amazed. For a Xmas gift I purchased the Retrospective book for a very close friend, camping partner and fellow photographer.

Sponging the book off him would be in bad form, so I either visit he and his wife more often or go get a copy for myself. I think the later. The photos were amazing and I would like to read about his career.

I also got my brother Planet Earth for Xmas which also had fantastic photos. I don't mind sponging off him.

Both not only had these incredible photos in them but had a message of environmental consciousness. Both are important in my life.

NJMAN · Dec 31, 2007

Galen Rowell's work is very impressive. One thing I noticed for sure is that he likes to saturate colors quite a bit. But even without the saturation, his comps are impeccable.

I cant say that I've been under the influence of anyone in particular when it comes to landscapes. But I have been inspired by a few great landscape photogs on this board, however.

My other great passion as most of the people here know is portrait photography. A great influence for me in that department is Mark Tucker.

abraxas · Dec 31, 2007

I think Galen was a fantastic photographer. From what I understand he started out working in an auto body and paint shop. I like the saturation, but a couple weeks ago he was brought up in a conversation with someone that hasn't seen my efforts. Basically, the thought was that a little bit of his work goes a long way. That this person couldn't see more than one or two images of his per houshold. That if someone had numerous prints in their home they'd suffer maybe some kind of color vertigo or something. I somewhat agree.

A couple more contemporaries are the Muench family, David and Marc. I was hoping to go on one of David's workshops this spring, but for now that's out of the question. He does some nice work though and doesn't seem to have such a heavy hand.

http://www.muenchphotography.com/

I'll have to look up some of the names in the 'Planet Earth' book. I'm pretty limited on my resources other than the photographers online. The're fine, but I wonder what gets sold/published. I look up 'famous landscape photographers' or something similar and often come up with -some guy- that comes off like a Richard Cranium.

There's been a few here on TPF and a few other places that just blow me away. But sometimes it's hard to define what's really working in the world.

Rick Waldroup · Jan 1, 2008

You know, I'm not real big on landscape photography, but I do like Michael Kenna's work, especially the stuff he shot in Japan, the last few years.

http://www.edelmangallery.com/kenna.htm

Helen B · Jan 1, 2008

The landscape work of Raymond Moore, Thomas Joshua Cooper, Paul Hill, Ian Wainwright (not the populist IW), Richard Long and Hamish Fulton has been particularly eye-opening for me. I like the work of a lot of other landscape photographers, such as Jem Southam, Robert Adams, Joel Sternfeld, John Ganis, Laura McPhee, Virginia Beahan, Lewis Balz, Harry Callahan, Minor White and many many others.

Galen Rowell's work is like pornography for mountaineers. That's not a criticism, by the way. I've done very well producing pornography for mountaineers.

Best,
Helen

gmarquez · Jan 1, 2008

abraxas said:
Anyone else have watershed moments?

My landscapes usually turn out pretty good; my portraits (usually) turn out to suck pretty good. When I realized that, that was my watershed moment. :lmao:

Seriously, I'm trying to get better at people shots, but landscapes are where I find most of my photographic "drama".

Joves · Jan 1, 2008

I live in N.Az so I shoot tons of landscapes and, nature. Not really shooting people much but, I might try and, do more of that ths year.

abraxas · Jan 2, 2008

Great link Rick. Thank you.

Helen, thank you for the names. I looked up Moore and Cooper so far, very impressive. I'll post a list of links I can dig up on them all.

gmarquez & Joves,

I think we live in a great part of the country to be able to access and focus on landscapes. There's so much that is, not untouched for sure, but still in its natural history- For now.

The_Caper · Jan 2, 2008

Abraxas,

I really like this thread you started and am glad you shared your thoughts with us here. Ever since I started into photography, shooting Landscapes, Wildlife and Nature has been my entire watershed.

I have never been a really big people shooter, however I find the beauty in brides from weddings I had shot with my old film gear yearg ago brought strong emotion however I found it hard work and over tiring.

I suppose my fear of nature slowly disappearing around us today is why I stick to mostly shooting outdoors take for example where I go on my hikes. Over the next couple of years they are planning on tearing everything up and building more residential subdivisions. So, instead of just leaving my house on foot and going into the bush to shoot wildlife I will then have to jump in a car and drive some distance just to start a descent hike.

Anyway, it was nice to here your thoughts on landscape and I appreciate all the replies from folks with links as it does really help me with my thoughts on shooting landscape/nature.

Cheers.

Alex_B · Jan 2, 2008

interesting thread.

I mainly shoot outdoors (landscape, occasionally wildlife, architecture) as well. However, i do not really have any photographers I would consider my idols.

abraxas · Jan 2, 2008

Thanks Caper. I'm glad there's been some responses.

I let a few folks slip into the view finder either on accident or forcibly once in awhile. I had a blast shooting people on the 'Strip' in Vegas last summer. I wanted to show,.. well.. I have some shots of people in outdoor classes I take. The people shots rarely get edited and posted. I think that's because I'm busy trying to artfully document as many things as I can that will either change or not be in 50 years.

For the children -- Excuse me;

( :biglaugh:

) -- Had to do that- bad run-ins with solicitors being paid by the government to produce 'educational' power point presentations. They expect me to donate my work. They say, I'd be doing it, "For the children." Yeah right. ... Mine, when they're in their 50's. Papa's leaving them rights. [edit- I'd like to add that they're being paid a pretty decent wage, I'd like to see them work their butt off free, "for the children"]

Alex, I heard that at least in the U.S., it's at least a three mile hike to anything different worthwhile to photo. You go into some places on the top of the world or somewhere that are so cool looking, and way further out. Does the 3-mile limit hold true everywhere?

Helen, "Pornography for Mountaineers." -Thanks. I'll be using that phrase.

domromer · Jan 2, 2008

abraxas said:
Usually the discussions I've seen regarding influential photographers (pardon the expression) degenerate into photographers that choose people for subjects. Really, some are quite excellent and intriguing, but what about those of us who have chosen another path- Landscapes only?

I've shot some people photos, but prefer being in the great outdoors and trying to form some kind of bond with nature. Of course nature and the wilderness is indifferent to my existance, but never unfaithful to it's indifference (paraphrase ~ Edward Abbey). I enjoy that.

I don't know (or care- am indifferent) if there others here that feel the same, but at this point I'm truly comfortable with just shooting landscapes. I realized this a couple years ago after looking at the work of Galen Rowell. Something clicked or snapped, busted real bad, or maybe even got fixed. But here's a gallery of the work that helped me gain some focus on what I'm trying accomplish.

http://mountainlight.com/gallery.west/images.html

I don't pour over the shots, but find them impressive. I do want to develop my own individual style, but the feel of these images I believe lie under my efforts.

There are others- but seeing Mr. Rowell's work is when the bone broke.

Anyone else have watershed moments?

Those are some great photos.

I guess I had my watershed moment last year. I had been having mild success selling my photos to magazines. All I started to think about is was is this image sellable. I began to think too much about each photo and my photos actually got worse. I really stopped enjoying taking photos and I wasn't selling for a while. I realized how I was making myself miserable putting so much pressure on each photo and I was ruining something I had been taking great pleasure in for the past 17 years. So I stopped caring so much. I went out and took pictures of dogs, chickens, anything and I wasn't thinking the whole time who could I submit these too. After that I really began to enjoy photography again. I still riding that wave, , after just getting back from a week in Yellowstone. It feels like I was 15 and learning the dark room and each print felt like magic. After all this I'm actually selling more photos!

Alex_B · Jan 2, 2008

abraxas said:
Alex, I heard that at least in the U.S., it's at least a three mile hike to anything different worthwhile to photo. You go into some places on the top of the world or somewhere that are so cool looking, and way further out. Does the 3-mile limit hold true everywhere?

I think this really depends on the area, there are areas where you walk for many many miles and every shot will look the same, but then there are areas where you get something exciting around every corner. Europe is pretty good in that respect. Very often you get "small-ish" landscapes, which change alot over a stretch of 3 miles

But also in Europe it really depends.

At the coast or in the mountains, half a mile can make an infinity of a difference, in more flat-ish land, it makes nothing.

Helen B · Jan 2, 2008

Helen B said:
The landscape work of Raymond Moore, Thomas Joshua Cooper, Paul Hill, Ian Wainwright (not the populist IW), Richard Long and Hamish Fulton has been particularly eye-opening for me. I like the work of a lot of other landscape photographers, such as Jem Southam, Robert Adams, Joel Sternfeld, John Ganis, Laura McPhee, Virginia Beahan, Lewis Balz, Harry Callahan, Minor White and many many others.

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