p.1 #2 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
Interesting.
Sometimes I think people outside this type photography think you just point & click.
There's a lot of time, money, travel, gas, hiking, and thought that can go into getting just one nice image. And, if, you are lucky then it might be an exceptional image... which seem to be about 1 in 100...
Other than that, it can be disappointment and failure.
p.1 #4 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
ckcarr wrote:
And, if, you are lucky then it might be an exceptional image... which seem to be about 1 in 100...
Other than that, it can be disappointment and failure.
Wow, you're much more efficient than I am! I probably end up with an exceptional shot...Come to think about it, I don't think I've ever had an exceptional shot!
p.1 #6 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
ckcarr wrote:
Interesting.
Sometimes I think people outside this type photography think you just point & click.
There's a lot of time, money, travel, gas, hiking, and thought that can go into getting just one nice image. And, if, you are lucky then it might be an exceptional image... which seem to be about 1 in 100...
Other than that, it can be disappointment and failure.
Seriously.
Sometime I have it in mind to write something at the blog about the real process of landscape photography, to the extent that I can generalize. As with many things, the myths are much more attractive in some ways than the reality, but the reality has its own extraordinary rewards.
One of the more interesting recent odd notions is that landscape photography is some sort of thrill a minute action sport. Somewhere not too long ago I saw someone soliciting something along the lines of "the most dangerous or risky thing you've done in landscape photography." Elsewhere recently I've see an internet meme portraying the process of photographing the landscape as one that involves getting together a big group of partying friends and descending on a place unknown to them to do wild and crazy things.
Much landscape photography is done in the cold and wind and often at very early and late times and frequently in (often glorious) solitude. Often there are great periods of looking around, trying to find and see things, experiments that don't work out, time spent waiting for things that don't happen... with intervening time when shooting may not be great or even possible. But this, I think, makes the rewards all that much sweeter when you do find them.
Every so often a non-photographer wants to go along with me. I almost always talk them out of it, explaining that I can hardly imagine anything more boring than watching me make photographs. :-)
p.1 #7 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
gdanmitchell wrote:
Much landscape photography is done in the cold and wind and often at very early and late times and frequently in (often glorious) solitude. Often there are great periods of looking around, trying to find and see things, experiments that don't work out, time spent waiting for things that don't happen... with intervening time when shooting may not be great or even possible. But this, I think, makes the rewards all that much sweeter when you do find them.
Every so often a non-photographer wants to go along with me. I almost always talk them out of it, explaining that I can hardly imagine anything more boring than watching me make photographs. :-)
...Show more →
Landscape photography can probably be likened to what is said about airline pilots - long stretches of boredom punctuated by a few seconds of sheer terror (or delight in our case).
p.1 #8 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
gdanmitchell wrote:
Seriously.
Sometime I have it in mind to write something at the blog about the real process of landscape photography, to the extent that I can generalize. As with many things, the myths are much more attractive in some ways than the reality, but the reality has its own extraordinary rewards.
One of the more interesting recent odd notions is that landscape photography is some sort of thrill a minute action sport. Somewhere not too long ago I saw someone soliciting something along the lines of "the most dangerous or risky thing you've done in landscape photography." Elsewhere recently I've see an internet meme portraying the process of photographing the landscape as one that involves getting together a big group of partying friends and descending on a place unknown to them to do wild and crazy things.
Much landscape photography is done in the cold and wind and often at very early and late times and frequently in (often glorious) solitude. Often there are great periods of looking around, trying to find and see things, experiments that don't work out, time spent waiting for things that don't happen... with intervening time when shooting may not be great or even possible. But this, I think, makes the rewards all that much sweeter when you do find them.
Every so often a non-photographer wants to go along with me. I almost always talk them out of it, explaining that I can hardly imagine anything more boring than watching me make photographs. :-)
p.1 #9 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
Thanks for posting this, snapsy. I really enjoyed viewing it. I have actually been to the Seven Sisters area twice. Once with my wife, and another time with Simon Parsons.
He spends quite a bit of time shooting this area, and has come up with some lovely shots.
Ironically, my visit with Simon started with little hope, and finished quite nicely. It began with very stormy conditions, and wind that was so severe that it actually blew stones off the cliff edges breaking glass in car windows parked nearby. In the end, we got a nice break in the sky as the sun was fading in the west. Every once in a while, patience is rewarded.
p.1 #11 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
I long time ago decided that for me personally it was more about being out there in those beautiful moments. Now I rarely am disappointed even with less than stellar photos. I still had a fabulous moment being prepared to make the best of an already wonderful moment.
p.1 #12 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
Thanks for sharing. I don't do as much landscape as I'd like due to the area in which I live, which is about to change but agree that sometimes it's more about the adventure than the image. I know I've progressed, but haven't come close to graduating to the 1/100 club. I think I'm somewhere in the 1/750 range.
p.1 #13 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
Rosemary R wrote:
I long time ago decided that for me personally it was more about being out there in those beautiful moments. Now I rarely am disappointed even with less than stellar photos. I still had a fabulous moment being prepared to make the best of an already wonderful moment.
Agreed. I used to get very frustrated when I would go shoot, because all the variables that are required to make a great shot would never seem to line up. Then I learned to enjoy it simple for what it is, 90% of the experience now is simply being out there, often alone, and experiencing some peace and solitude with mother nature. Sometimes I am rewarded with a great shot, and sometimes I am just rewarded with the experience of trying.
p.1 #15 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
Great post. Thanks much. I actually found myself rooting against him getting a great shot at the end...kind of like how the guy in the movies always seems to hit the Jackpot at the slots with his 1st quarter. This ending was realisitic and satisfying. Thanks again.
p.1 #16 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
I'm slowly becoming more content with just going out and seeing what's possible & if it's not, come back another day or season. The journey is becoming more satisfying than the destination. Maybe some day they will be equal.?
p.1 #18 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
roman.johnston wrote:
I have to say my outings are very diffrent. I guess one size does not fit all in photography. But then I am a bit of a photographic romantic.
p.1 #19 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
My primary objective is to go out and enjoy the landscape. My goal is re-charging and connection with the land. Photography, is (while strong) secondary. Photography is part of my connection, but it never takes over the connection....as I know that is what allows my shots to carry the emotion and energy of the places I visit.
When I arrive to a location I want to visit, often I will take all my gear off, and just sit for a bit and take in the energy of the place, give appreciation for even the simple joy of being allowed to be there....thank the universe for even having the potential for such an experience.
I guess it is a lot like a hunter giving reverent thanks to the spirit of the animal they just hunted. If you recognize your part of the energy that IS the place your visiting, you begin to feel part of it. This opens my mind to ideas of how to tell it's story. Where to go. Instincts then often take a stronger role in walking and exploring than though processes. Discovery is more like a child seeing something for the first time than a clumsy thought process.
Because of my home situation, I do not get out nearly as much as I would like to. But even that ends up being part of this. I plan for a visit somewhere, and start "asking the universe" for favorable weather conditions. My spiritual values tell me I am connected with everything and that a respectful request will always be heard. Last time I went to the Japanese Gardens, both time rewarded me with amazing fog and atmospheric conditions. I go on outings and things just click. I trust the universe to give me everything I need to create images that reflect well on where I am going.....and such conditions just add to my experience, which compounds my connection....compounding my success rate of getting some good captures.
Its a very intuitive process. You have to truly believe in your connection, and interact with that connection with your world.
Maybe I am just weird like that, not sure how others connect with their world, I just know how I do.
p.1 #20 · THE SHOT - documentary about a landscape photographer
Roman, great comments, thanks. I feel the same connection when I first arrive to a scene but find it difficult to sustain that spirit if I'm having to wait long periods for the lighting to be just right. I usually spend my downtime finding subsets of the scene to focus on and shoot. How do you deal with the potential downtime?
