Scars on Land

How we view the landscape, can be shaped by the choice of words we use to describe it.

The word scar for instance has negative connotations. It is often used to convey damage, fault, or something that is permanent which cannot be repaired. We use it to describe emotional damage as well as physical.

I’m often conscious that my choice of words can influence how I feel about a place. Often the feelings come first, and I hunt for a word to describe my feelings. Other times, the words come first, and an emotional reaction is derived by the words I chose to describe the place.

Much like long exposures record the passage of time, scars are a recording of the landscape’s formation. There is something in this for me. I am drawn to knowing that there is history. I am intrigued even, because I realise, I will never know the full story of what happened here.

But I’ve come to see scars in the landscapes as something more than just a mark, a trace of the landscape’s formation. They can be wonderful composition motifs, pleasing or perhaps providing tension to the scene I am recording.

I have re-imagined what I think the word scar means.

They are natures drawings, often loaded with aesthetic beauty as well as many other things.

Some more photogenic than others. Some more meaningful than others. I find myself drawn to them, and I can’t really get to the bottom of why. All I know is they satisfy my visual curiosity for building compositions that are meaningful to me in some way.

I think this is why I am drawn to the interior of Iceland. It is a young landscape. The traces of its formation are apparent, if not in understanding, for I am no geologist, but certainly in terms of graphic artistry. I often feel as though I am looking at the underlying structure of our world. Stripped back to the essentials. It suits my aesthetic for the minimal and graphic. But it also suits my need for connection. For understanding the landscape.

Landscape photography is not just about looking for the graphic aesthetic. We are looking for connection. Often, I think I am hunting for a visual home. A place of familiarity. I am a Scot, and the weather, quality of light and muted colour palate present in the Icelandic interior makes me feel as though I am home in the Scottish Highlands. There is a lot of similarity, even though there is a vast difference in age by several hundred million years between the two landscapes. Iceland’s landscape is young. The oldest parts being roughly 20 million years old. Scotland’s landscape is approximately 480 million years old.

And yet I feel at home. So much so, that when I return to my homeland of Scotland, I find it much easier now to imagine where the glaciers one stood. How each valley was formed by vast tonnes of ice scraping and sculpting the land. I see traces in the scars left behind. And this brings me back full circle to realising that scars on land are somehow more important to me than I had once realised.

Royal Photographic Society

Last night I gave a presentation for two hours to the Royal Photographic Society. I covered my Bolivia images, Icelandic interior images, Hokkaido and Scotland.

I was initially reluctant to go - I rarely do any public speaking and felt I would make a mess of it all. But despite initial nerves, I’m really pleased I didn’t cancel. I feel I got a lot out of doing the talk. There were a few things I learned about my own work during the talk, but also, found some of the comments from some of the audience extremely encouraging. There was a nice observation about some of my images looking a little like a Rothko painting (very nice indeed).

I wish to thank the RPS for considering inviting me - especially Mark Reeves. There are so many photographers these days to choose from, so thank you so much. It was a very nice evening on several levels, including meeting some old friends there.

Simplifying the Landscape

The episode discusses the importance of simplifying compositions in landscape photography. I aim to emphasise the need to remove or quieten secondary aspects of a scene to effectively convey the intended message.

Transcript:

I've been photographing now for over 25 years, and if I were to use one word to describe what I have been trying to do over that time, whether I knew it or not, it is the word ‘simplify’.

I think the aim for all of us is to convey to our audience what we saw. And to do that, we must spend time making sure our compositions are as effective as they can be. The only way to do that is to remove or quieten down the secondary aspects of the scene. And that takes time, a lot of time, years in fact.

As beginners we tend to ignore what we don't love, and only see what we do. Love is blind as they say, and no more blind than when it comes to photographing what we love.

This explains why we often find there is a disconnect between what we thought we captured, and what we got when reviewing our images later on.

I've learned that complex scenery is perhaps not the best place to start when beginning to photograph landscapes. I think we should choose landscapes that are overly simple. Landscapes that are made up of only the barest of building blocks, namely form and gradation of tone. Some describe these landscapes as abstract places, but I like to see them as simplified places where the distractions and complexities of traditional landscapes have been removed.

They allow me to work on what is most important, namely form and tone.

Whether it is an ellipse, a curve or a straight line, all landscapes have an underlying framework. Complex scenery does a good job of convincing us that this isn't the case, but it always is.

When we can see the landscape's framework clearly, it can aid us in many ways. The most obvious is that image making becomes a lot easier. But I think for me, the most vital role it plays is that of allowing me to disassociate myself from the landscape.

In other words, I am able to abstract the scene more easily,

which makes composing a whole lot simpler. For when I abstract a scene, I am no longer thinking of rivers, lagoons or hills. Instead, I am thinking of the tonal aspect of a curve, of the smooth gradation of one ellipse to another. And I am thinking of symmetry and balance of one shape or one shade against another.

This is why I find Lensois Maranhensis in Brazil such a joy to work in. Deserts, such as Lensois, are nothing more than a framework of lines, patterns and gradation of tone. They are a perfect playground to learn the essentials of composition, light and form, no matter how proficient one may be.

Aomori, Japan

I think each portfolio always has a standout image, whether intended or not. Particularly when not intended, standout images can often have more power than an intended standout image can. I think this is because images like this tend to buckle or go against the flow of the narrative of the portfolio, and in a way, often add a twist or a depth to the personality of the portfolio.

At the time of capturing the horse photo above, it remained etched into my mind. I think this was mostly because I shot it at the time when everything was frozen solid. The snow was sticking to the cast iron sculpture. A few hours later when I walked past it to return to the car, the stippled ice texture of the statue had vanished.

Regardless, I don’t think my portfolio below would be quite the same if the horse image was never made, or not included in the final set. Yet, by adding it, the only thing that makes it belong to the rest of the set is the colour / toning.

Taj Mahal Re-imagined

The following text was included in my monthly newsletter. But I enjoyed writing it so much that I felt I should include it on my blog.

I am thinking today that what is not often said is that photographic ‘style’ comes from a place of having a strong vision, and clarity of execution. If you know what you really want, or ‘see’ where a set of images can be taken to, that is the most important thing in terms of conveying a message. The issue for most, and I include myself in it, is that sometimes we’ve not really thought through what the intention is behind the work. That intention can surface over hours or days whilst we begin to look at new work. Stumble upon a theme during editing and decide ‘ah, that’s what this is all about, it’s about the fog!’, and away you go….

Way back in 2009, before I had even begun to offer workshops and tours, I left my IT career behind me. Due to the credit crash of 2008, I was out of work, and decided to head off to India for a month’s worth of photography. I took my dad with me.

One of the most beautiful places I got to see in India was the Taj Mahal. I had not expected to be as overwhelmed as I was by its beauty. Looking back, I think I was emotional because of the contrast between the poverty I had seen on the streets and the majesty and elegance of the Taj Mahal gardens. After weeks of travelling around Rajasthan, the Taj Mahal was a welcome relief from the intensity of India.

Smog ridden, and with constant heartburn due to the air pollution, I made some images on my Mamiya 7II camera. I was never really satisfied with them, even though I had felt the experience of being in the Taj Mahal gardens had given me memories I shall never forget.

The Taj Mahal gardens were peaceful, despite there being more than a thousand people there with me at 6am.

The colour of the marble was muted, subdued due to the poor visibility. I photographed the gardens and the temple, but did not know how to edit the work when I came home. I was out of my depth, and for many years had parked the images away, assuming them to be failures.

It is only this past month that I have chosen to revisit the original film negatives. The catalyst for this was my good friend and client Sirous. He spent some time with me talking about street photography. I ended up coming home to around seven nice street photography books that Sirous and the rest of my group had discussed.

Inspired to go back to my time in India due to the recent discussions about street photography (of which I love, but don’t do all that often at all), I had a look once more at my images from my time at the Taj Mahal.

Sixteen years later, I looked at the work and felt that I knew what was required to edit them.

It was an interesting exercise for me to do. To go back to older work and re-edit it. I could not escape the feeling that I was reconnecting with who I was back in 2009. I was also acutely aware of how limited my skills were back in 2009. I felt as though who I was back then, was sitting alongside me, watching me as I re-interpreted the work.

The Taj has an ethereal quality to its marble. It glows. And it seems to glow much more beautifully in the smog, which unfortunately is slowly eating it. The smog as far as I understand is acidic and causing great damage to the monument.

I wondered, after completing the new edits, about who I was back in 2009. About my time with my dad who accompanied me on this trip. Time has passed. My father no longer here, himself a memory as much as the Taj Mahal is a memory. I could not help but revisit my younger self and enjoy the time with my dad once again.

I have always said that going back to rework images is to be avoided. I would much prefer to keep moving forward, and to not look back. It comes pretty much from a fear of getting stuck in a perfectionists hell of not being able to move forward. Besides, we never truly ever finish anything. Where we leave it, is more a testament to who we were at the time of our editing.

I was wrong though. Being able to revisit older work, when the time is right, can allow us to complete something that was perhaps out of reach of our abilities at the time.

I know this little re-edit session gave me so much. I got to spend time with my dad again. Time with my younger self. Time to remember a lifetime trip. Time to explore how far I’ve changed as a photographer, and also perhaps how much I have stayed the same.

And an understanding that old images can sometimes offer us something new.

Cloth Samples

Next book project is progressing. Today I received some cloth samples. it’s always best to get some real samples to check against.

Personal Motifs

In this podcast, I discuss the importance of revisiting and developing a personal connection with certain landscapes or locations in photography.

I emphasise that returning to places that resonate with you can result in them becoming personal motifs, themes that you keep returning to, and that help contribute towards your voice or style.

Transcript:

If you find success with a location and come away with some great images then my advice would be to keep going back. The landscape or location clearly works for you on some level, and there is probably much more to be gained from spending more time there.

I have been making photos now for around 24 years. It is only natural for one to build a history with the places they return to, time and time again, to photograph.

I am not one for going to completely new places each year, and instead I have always preferred to go back to the locations that I have some affinity with. They draw me back, and I know there is always a reason for it.

When I am compelled to go back, I have learned that there is clearly still much photography to be done, and I know that this will contribute in some way to my development as a photographer.

In a way, any landscape that we keep returning to, or that becomes a major part of our photography, is what I would like to call a personal motif. These landscapes contribute to our personal growth, but also they become a calling card to others as to what it is that we do.

In essence, landscapes that keep drawing you back define you. Similar to the saying, you are what you eat, so it is true that you are what you photograph.

Once we recognise that certain key landscapes or locations have helped define our style, or at the very least convey to us what we are drawn to, then I think there is no going back.

I for one recognise that I seem to be attracted to conical silhouettes in my work. It is a theme that I seem to be drawn to when I encounter them. I found that by looking back over my 20 or so years of photography, that they come up time and time again.

I now embrace this.

Ever since I made the conscious act of understanding that what I should defines who I am, it has given me permission to go look for and work with these personal motifs.

And this brings me on to my main subject.

If someone were to ask me if there is one place out of all the places that I return to that perhaps exemplifies this for me, it would have to be the Icelandic mountain Þóristindur. A mountain that started out being one of many conical shaped subjects that I am attracted to has been promoted in my art by being given its own special portfolio.

It clearly has more importance to me than I have understood.

It is one of my personal motifs for I could not imagine my photography without its existence in my body of work. And it seems to symbolise something more than just my attraction to prominent mountain shapes or black silhouettes.

There is something much richer in it for me than I can possibly describe. All I can say for sure is that I think we all need to seek and find our own personal motifs.

They are, whether anyone else notices or not, or even understands or not, what drive us forward.

The Horses of St Marks

While in Venice, I came across statues of the horses of St. Marks. I didn’t have a camera to shoot them with that I could use without a tripod. Since St. Marks would not allow tripods inside, I had to wait a year. When I returned this past December, I took my Hasselblad so I could shoot inside the building.

I don’t normally shoot statues or buildings, but the past year or so, mostly because I’ve been visiting Venice (as a holiday and respite from my usual landscape photography), I’ve engaged in it.

I think all you can do, is photograph the things that speak to you.

I really liked the horses. I don’t really have anything more to say on it, except that I like the bronze look to the final edits I’ve made, which I had envisioned at the time I made the images.

the end sends advanced warning

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time looking at street photography books, of which I will write later. As part of my looking for new inspiration I found this video about Todd Hido’s work, which I love. It is an interesting mix of landscape and what I would call ‘random street photography’.

There is an element of randomness, imperfection to the compositions which I love. They are a relief to the tightly controlled compositions I tend to strive for.

I always think we should strive for the highest quality inspiration we can find. If you want your photography to move up a level, you won’t get that from looking at work that is on the same level as your own.

Olive

I remember reading in one of Ansel Adam’s books that he was only truly happy about one of his exhibitions because the walls were painted olive.

Adams reasoning was that olive is close to mid-grey, and if one wishes to evaluate the true blacks and whites of one’s prints, then putting them on a mid-grey background allows the eye to have a reference point. I paraphrase Adam’s words. I may have got some of the detail wrong, but I think I got the essence of what he was saying correct.

I often find when putting hi key images against mid-grey, I am able to discern the off white colours more easily. Similarly, the blacks in prints convey the correct depth. Plus any intended colour cast in the blacks is more evident against a grey background. The eye needs a neutral tone with which to reference against.

On a slight side note: I sometimes spend a lot of time hue-shifting the blacks and whites in my images. Black is not always black and I find that sometimes blacks with some blue or magenta in them can convey more depth. Similarly, snow is not white, it comes in all varying shifts in hue as the colour temperature changes throughout the day. I often spend a lot of time tuning the hues of the whites in my work.

I am often told that my images are just white, and they do not have any colour to them. Colour awareness varies greatly from person to person. But you can kill any subtleties in your work if the surrounding colours are too strong.

This is why I have changed the background colour of this very website. I felt that the black background was causing myself and I am sure many others, to be unable to discern the more subtle colour casts in the shadows and highlights of my photography.

Fact of the matter is, that adjacent colour affects our perception of a colour we are looking at. Which can be nicely illustrated in the picture of a bowler hat below. The yellow square (right side of the hat) and the brown square (left side of the hat) are actually the same colour. If you don’t believe me, then I urge you to load the image into Photoshop and copy the yellow square on the right and drag it over the brown square. You will see it transform before your eyes as you drag it across.

So, depending on the background colour of your website, your images may be interpreted very differently. As I think mine were. Folks were not noticing the subtle colours in the highlights because the black surrounding was far too dominant.

If you have the time, and wish to go back to my galleries, you may find that you can see colours and nuances that were not obvious when this website’s background colour was black.

And if you still think my images are ‘just white’, then I am afraid I cannot help you ;-)