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The Importance of Context
Can you appreciate both a good novel and a good piece of journalism? How about a good poem and a good guidebook? Why is it that many are so resistant to accommodating multiple uses for photography as they do for writing more
Black & White
If I did not have to make my living from photography, I would only stick to black & white. There is so much more freedom in black & white than in colour. more
The Unknown Room
Asked about adventure, Messner said you need an unknown environment to really experience it, an unknown room as he calls it. That, I think, brings into play the authentic side of photography. The moving on towards the unknown. Something you experience for the first time. Something you photograph for the first time. more
Compositional Controversies
Debate has often raged between photographers, about the advantages and characteristics of specific aspect ratios. I know that, having listened (and contributed) to a few such debates over the years. And yet, how significant is aspect ratio, and is it meaningful to us as we develop our photography? more
An Accidental Book Venture
In 2013 I self-published a photography location guide book, which started out as personal curiosity and accidentally ended up as a continuing venture. How I hadn’t thought of combining photography and book publishing before then is a mystery to me in hindsight, but let me explain how it happened. more
Luminous photographs
Technically, luminosity refers to how much light an object emits. In photography we tend to think of luminosity as how much light an object reflects, we measure luminosity with light meters, usually the amount reflected off the subject, though this isn’t really technically correct. A printmaker will think of luminosity in terms of how much of the paper tone will shine through in the final print. An artist will think of how bright the lightest tones they will add more
Rolling Stones, Norwegian Wood and some others
In 1990 I visited the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite National Park. I was eager to see some powerful American landscape photographs. In their collection of work by the American masters, they had several dye transfer prints by Eliot Porter and for very decent amount of money. However at this time in my life I was not ready for Eliot Porter. I simply did not appreciate the subtle content of his intimate landscapes. more
Conflicts of Interest
To anyone who wishes to elevate their experience of photography beyond simply seeking pretty places and checking known compositions off a list, my advice is this: find places and subjects that are personally meaningful to you, and immerse yourself in getting to know them. more
Compositional Controversies
The Rule of Thirds (RoT) may well be the best-known, most-loved and revered, and equally hated and reviled ‘law’ in art and photography. more
Iceland from above
In 1995, during my first visit to Iceland, I discovered a book with aerial photographs of Iceland by German photographer Klaus Francke. I was blown away by the colours and the complexity of the Icelandic landscape. more
Looking back, looking forward
On a now regular, long, late night drive home from Teeside I was running back through all the different combinations of camera equipment I have used since taking up photography back in 2000. more
Looking for excellence
We all know how a memorable photograph looks like. We have so many examples that take our breath away. It takes talent, chance, work and a lot of passion. more
An alternative view…
As always, my inclination is to look for things other than the grand vista to photograph, to search for things that speak to me more of what I personally consider the essence of this place more
The Perils of Social Photography
Discussions of photography most often focus on aspects of making images—tools, techniques, locations, subject matter, etc. All are important, to be sure, but one topic that is consistently neglected and that, in my opinion, is equally worthy of consideration is the photographer’s motivation. more
Mount Fitzroy
The first time I heard the word mentioned, was sometime in the mid 70-ties. It was through a documentary film shown on about a British expedition across the Argentinian glacier Hielo Sur. more