Posted by Bernie Kasper on February 21, 2007 at 10:44 PM
Took this shot earlier this winter, I really don't know what I was after, I know alot of people post images like this trying to find order or choas or what ever the hell they are after. I don't claim to be a artist so I really have no understanding of the art world but I would like some input on what people are after in this type of scene. Thanks for any info.
Posted by Toni Lankerd on February 22, 2007 at 9:36 AM
I like snowy scenes like this and often try to capture them myself.
The jury is still out on this one...can't make up my mind whether it's too busy or not, but the textures on the tree trunk are nice.
Posted by Robert Helms on February 22, 2007 at 7:41 PM
I'm with Toni the textures are wonderful, but I'm undecided on whether or not it's too busy.
What people are after I do not know, but as for me it's trying to find beauty within chaos. We do it all the time. The midwest doesn't have any mountains and even rolling hills can be a challenge. The entire area is mostly chaotic, but within it lies beauty. I feel it anyone can take successful landscape images in the midwest they can take them anywhere on the planet.
Posted by Bernie Kasper on February 22, 2007 at 8:42 PM
I agree completely with what your saying Robert, it is a struggle to find things here that really scream out here I am shoot me. Sometimes things just fall in place but most of the time it's a hell of alot of walking for the same old thing
Hey Bernie, this is a really good topic, especially for us Midwest nature photographers.I got a chuckle out of your opening comment to this thread.
Chaos is a reality of photography in the midwest, especially in the interior spaces that most of our states are comprised of. I generally feel that my best photographs have at least a finger or two stuck in the "chaos" camp. Part of that, probably because I see so much chaos in my day to day shooting, is that I perceive chaos as an integral component in relating a sense of "place" in the area's I choose to photograph. My personal bias is towards images that convey chaos, while retaining some sense of order and intention imparted by the photographer's "eye". I also like how I can discover an underlying graphical component in many images that appear chaotic at first glance. Danny Burk, as a known example, is very good at this. So are a number of other midwest landscape photographers such as Craig Blacklock. Some photographers will push the element of chaos further than others, Eliot Porter comes to mind. I would highly recommend his book Nature's Chaos if you haven't checked it out before. The printing isn't very good, but the content is first rate.
I find your image here intriguing, and I've come back to look a number of times. It's maybe a bit static, possibly because the prominent tree is dead centered with so many of the lines leading out to the edge of the frame without anything to bring the eye back in. That said, I know that subjects such as this are very difficult to organize visually. I like the sense of starkness and the monochromatic impression. I don't know if this is a color image or not. You could tell me either way and I would believe you. I'd be curious as to where this could lead you should you choose to follow this path.
Posted by Jack Graham on February 22, 2007 at 11:17 PM
You guys have really brought up a great topic. I agree with you all. Having lived on the West Coast, the East Coast and now the "no" cost, let me absolutely tell you with out exception you are all correct. The Midwest to photography is what getting along in NYC is to life ( remember--"If you can make it here you can make it anywhere").
It interesting t me that many well know nature pros are ex Midwest guys ( or as far as Rod Planck still is). John Shaw, Larry west and others are rooted in the Midwest.
JG
I really hope we can all get together for a weekend of shooting somewhere before I move ( I would guess i'm not going before May or so). We could have a great time talking about these kinds of things.
JG
Posted by Robert Helms on February 23, 2007 at 7:46 PM
This is a good topic, Bernie. I'm really surprised that we all seem to be on a similar page. I always thought that it was just me who thought this way, but guess not.
Jack, I'd be interested in meeting up at some point before you leave, providing my work schedule doesn't get in the way. I only work six months a year, but it sure seems that I'm always working on days that there is something going on.
Posted by Jimmy Terrell on February 23, 2007 at 9:45 PM
Sounds like a plan! I would really like to get out and shoot some challenging Midwest shots. I just hope it's not on my weekend to work! I'm sure Bernie will clue me in to whatever plans are made. Looking forward to an outing, and the meet & greet!
Discussion
7 repliesThe jury is still out on this one...can't make up my mind whether it's too busy or not, but the textures on the tree trunk are nice.
What people are after I do not know, but as for me it's trying to find beauty within chaos. We do it all the time. The midwest doesn't have any mountains and even rolling hills can be a challenge. The entire area is mostly chaotic, but within it lies beauty. I feel it anyone can take successful landscape images in the midwest they can take them anywhere on the planet.
Chaos is a reality of photography in the midwest, especially in the interior spaces that most of our states are comprised of. I generally feel that my best photographs have at least a finger or two stuck in the "chaos" camp. Part of that, probably because I see so much chaos in my day to day shooting, is that I perceive chaos as an integral component in relating a sense of "place" in the area's I choose to photograph. My personal bias is towards images that convey chaos, while retaining some sense of order and intention imparted by the photographer's "eye". I also like how I can discover an underlying graphical component in many images that appear chaotic at first glance. Danny Burk, as a known example, is very good at this. So are a number of other midwest landscape photographers such as Craig Blacklock. Some photographers will push the element of chaos further than others, Eliot Porter comes to mind. I would highly recommend his book Nature's Chaos if you haven't checked it out before. The printing isn't very good, but the content is first rate.
I find your image here intriguing, and I've come back to look a number of times. It's maybe a bit static, possibly because the prominent tree is dead centered with so many of the lines leading out to the edge of the frame without anything to bring the eye back in. That said, I know that subjects such as this are very difficult to organize visually. I like the sense of starkness and the monochromatic impression. I don't know if this is a color image or not. You could tell me either way and I would believe you. I'd be curious as to where this could lead you should you choose to follow this path.
It interesting t me that many well know nature pros are ex Midwest guys ( or as far as Rod Planck still is). John Shaw, Larry west and others are rooted in the Midwest.
JG
I really hope we can all get together for a weekend of shooting somewhere before I move ( I would guess i'm not going before May or so). We could have a great time talking about these kinds of things.
JG
Jack, I'd be interested in meeting up at some point before you leave, providing my work schedule doesn't get in the way. I only work six months a year, but it sure seems that I'm always working on days that there is something going on.