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On Limitations and Creativity
This morning I read a comment on a Facebook post saying simply that the weather recently had sapped any creativity and discouraged photography trips. I paraphrase, obviously, but it’s a sentiment that is seen expressed often. I’ve said it myself too, many times. Or should that be too many times! Only on Sunday morning I looked out early, saw the overcast sky and decided against going out. So, for those more
The Problem with Photography Journalism
Landscape photography receives little wholly positive press in the newspapers but most coverage of photography in general is neutral to positive. However, over the last few weeks a certain journalist from The Guardian seems to have taken the reins from Brian Sewell and ridden full blast into the anti-photography hall of fame. Jonathan Jones started his little escapade with the subtley titled “Flat, soulless and stupid: why photographs don’t work in art galleries” In this essay he has some great quotes on photography more
Taste and Landscape Photography
As you may already know from the interviews we have done with him, Mark Littlejohn was voted as the Take a View Landscape Photographer of the Year. The picture chosen was one that gathered quite a lot of praise online from many people who have previously criticised the competition (including me) but to say it was universally acclaimed is a stretch considering some of the quite vociferous abuse it has received on Facebook. more
What is Landscape Photography …
For me, photography is first and foremost a creative pursuit. Therefore, everything I think of and do with my photography is influenced by this. more
Overexposure
If we, as artists, fail to make such investments in learning the history and traditions of our medium, and in the appreciation of worthy photographic works offering more than the simple feats of dazzling viewers with color or views of exotic locations, how can we hope that others will? more
Autumnal Notes
I decided to make a foray into my local woods last weekend (5th October), my first visit for quite some months. The forecast was promising – clearing skies, a drop in temperature and no wind. As predicted there was a light ground frost, low lying mist with a promise of post dawn streams of light. Three hours later I was driving back home with a warm glow and eager to download the fruits of my labour. more
The Path of Some Resistance
With the exception of my love of wild places, photography had so far been the most persistent thread in my life more
Zero Footprint
The Zero Footprint project, explained in a nutshell, is a series of landscape photographs captured from one single location over a period of five years, and counting. The restriction is purely geographical – roughly one square metre of the patio outside our kitchen, we could use any camera and lens combination and had the entire (not insubstantial) vista as a palette. The one other stipulation was that each image should be aesthetically pleasing in it’s own right, as well more
Artistic Promiscuity
With this in mind, it was with some bafflement that I recently heard from a fellow photographer asking if I would recommend avoiding viewing other people’s photographs as a means of isolating their own “vision.” more
Respect
Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints.” To which I would add, by all means take home images but walk softly and leave as little trace of your passing as you can. more
Tripod Wars: Time for a Ceasefire?
Imagine the scene – I’m sitting at home in my front room next to my wife, who is watching Grey’s Anatomy (I apologise on her behalf). Having recently subscribed to On Landscape I am busy making my way through the substantial number of previous issues and reading with interest so much of the excellent articles that have been submitted. Being fairly new to landscape photography I am hugely enjoying reading the ideas and thoughts of those much more experienced more
Indecisive? Moi?!
I've read a small amount about Ansel Adams over the last few years and he has always come across as the master technician of landscape photography. His teaching of the Zone System and his considered 5x4 and 10x8 work was an aspirational example of the master craftsman personified. So it was with a small amount of relief that I read an article about the making of "Moon and Half Dome, Yosemite" and discovered that he wasn't quite the perfectionist more
Judging Competitions
The process of judging photographic competitions is something that I have been interested in for some time. Many of you will remember my various rants about photographic competitions in the past and also some of my writing about how to suggest a better competition. Well the fact is that I never started that ‘better competition’ and maybe never will, but I am still interested in seeing how these competitions work and also thinking about ways to possibly improve them. [caption more
On Creativity – Pt 2
Flow was something that happened in my creative life long before I comprehended its significance. Twenty years ago I thought that it was just an odd state that happened from time to time. more
Exhibition Planning Part 3
This is the third and final instalment of my “journey into world of exhibitions” article. more