Like most folks here, I get really excited about taking and making photographs. I plan trips around pictures, spend more money than is reasonable on photographic things, and burn a lot of time on travel, cameras, and Photoshop. And while I have some images that I really like as a result, there's more to it than pictures. Photography is, I realize, a conduit to things that I like even better, though it's sometimes hard to put into words. Sometimes it's getting a rush in seeing something that's completely natural, but simply unbelievable. Sometimes it's a way to experience creativity. Sometimes it's experiencing a sense of change and growth that I didn't know was possible. Sometimes it's sharing time with friends and feeling close in ways that are hard to come by any other way. Even today, these are things I don't look for when I go out to take pictures, but somehow they come along, completely unplanned, and with a big surprise when they actually happen. Now, to be perfectly clear, I do like a good picture and all the mechanics that surround it, but there is more to photography than light and money and miles and time. It's this mystical, magical, metaphorical side to it that has the most impact and ends up being the thing I value most.
And so, I'm curious as to other's experiences beyond light. Have you also had photography take you somewhere very good, but completely unexpected, that maybe isn't about photography at all? A realization of who you are or what you value or something that you didn't know, that would have been hard to access were it not for photography. In other words, what does photography offer, besides pictures?
(Note: This is a repost of some thoughts I tried to post last night. Still not sure if I got it right, but it's hard to find the words sometimes.)
(2nd note: Changed the original punctuation from a question mark (?) to an exclamation point (!) after the first day of replies. The thoughtfulness and depth of the responses are amazing, though not entirely unexpected given the quality of people that hang out here. I actually feel like I'm listening more than reading in that there are obviously some very heartfelt words and personal stories here. They remind me of a quiet conversation with a friend after hiking somewhere beautiful, where I hear things for the first time and silence is OK.)
For me, at least at first, four years ago, it was an opportunity to hunt in a non destructive way - something I enjoyed when I was young but gave up as I got older. It was also a substitute for target shooting and archery and still is. I rarely shoot a rifle or bow anymore. I enjoy looking through the viewfinder, focusing the lens, (I don't really enjoy autofocus much.), pinning the reticle to my focal point, slowing my breath and lightly pressing the shutter disturbing the camera as little as possible when I take the shot.
Of course I hope to like the images I'm creating in the process but that happens at least as much with the post processing software as it does with the camera - probably more so. And I love playing with the software, LR, PS, HelIcon Focus, Photomatix, all the NIk products and PS plugins I can get my hands on.
I mostly do photography so I can play with the images in the software. Photography hasn't changed my values in any significant way and my passion in life is still software development. The biggest discovery has been realizing that I enjoy playing with colors and shapes in order to convey mood and that I'm willing to spend the resources you mention above in order to do it.
That's a remarkable example, Alain. So is Pat's, though. The point being that we're all going to have different experiences in this regard. Their only similarity is that that they were insights that resulted from photography but which carried us beyond it in unexpected ways.
When I took up photography as a hobby 3 decades ago, I saw myself becoming a sports phototgrapher. I never saw myself getting into nature photography. But as you said, Tony, there is a facet to this genre that makes a connection inside of us that needs replenishing as often as possible. And yes, it's many ingredients in the recipe that make it so highly addictive. For me it is all of the items you mentioned: experiencing the awe and grandeur of nature, friends, a growth we can't find in other endeavors, and an outlet for our need to create!
Check my post on the Landscape Photography forum as to the approach we might take in those efforts. I will be curious as to how you might "label" yourself, Tony.
I saw your original post and then began pulling my hair out as I couldn't find it again... I'm glad you reposted so that I know I'm not going crazy.
I'll add my little twist here. I know of what you speak in terms of not only "beyond light," but I think what you're saying is really, "beyond photography." My twist doesn't take it far beyond photography because having the camera is part of my long-standing philosophy or motivation for my photography; and that is simply the notion or concept of time. Not time in how long it takes to accomplish something or the time of day, but time as it would be defined in the term, "a moment in time."
That part which goes beyond photography is the simple recognition of an instant of time being frozen forever on a piece of film (or memory card) and permanently embedded in my brain and soul. A piece of time, or history, that will never again be repeated. And I was a part of that moment. That moment could have been about light, or some dramatic scene; it could be about being with friends or a loved one, your pal Spot. It could also be just about being a part of nature at that given moment in time.
Also related to time and history, I am always thinking as I wander around in search of that great scene to photograph, who, or what has stepped on this very ground I am now walking upon? Ok, I don't get that feeling when I'm on the side of the road in Yosemite Valley, but whenever I'm off the beaten path, in the chaparral of the Eastern Sierra, I wonder, who has stepped in this spot before me? Has anyone sat upon this rock or leaned against this tree? I wonder.
Kinda out there I know... but in light of the two rather esoteric posts in the Landscape forum, I figured, what the heck... Let's see what others have to say.
Lon
Posted by Robert Cubit on July 10, 2010 at 7:17 PM
Tony, that’s an excellent question, which I have rarely seen directly addressed in photography forums. And I think you’ve captured this nebulous philosophical concept very well. I believe it is a difficult concept to describe in words because as you say the “photographic experience” varies for each photographer, location and goal.
From my own perspective, I often describe photography as my excuse to visit some of the few remaining wild areas in the American Southwest---the more remote the better. It is during camping trips to places like this that I have experienced the “mystical, magical, metaphorical” feelings you describe. And although I’ve taken some of my best (and worst) photographs in such locations, for me the true depth of these experiences have had little to do with photography. They have had such a profound effect on me throughout my life that I have come to refer to these remote places as “reality”. I have heard this same term used by more than one top photographer and one advanced rock climber. And I’m sure John Muir and Ansel Adams knew these feelings well.
In every job I’ve had when I tell one of my colleagues about my upcoming vacation plans to camp for several weeks in some remote desert or mountain location, they would invariably raise their eyebrows, develop a pained expression on their face and say, “but, but, what do you DO out there?!” All I could do is smile, shrug and say “photography”, knowing that they could never truly understand if I tried to explain what I have derived from these trips. I believe folks who have never dared to venture into such remote places have missed one of life’s most valuable experiences.
I have often wondered if humans have some type of seldom used genetic ‘programming’ or wiring in the brain, that most folks who live in cities are not even aware of, which is only activated when we are in environments where the human race has lived throughout most of our history, until very recently.
BTW, I’m writing this on my iPhone while sitting on the edge of the "marble bath" at the top of Steele Pass on the 4x4 road connecting Saline and Eureka Valleys!
I have often wondered if humans have some type of seldom used genetic ‘programming’ or wiring in the brain, that most folks who live in cities are not even aware of, which is only activated when we are in environments where the human race has lived throughout most of our history, until very recently.
To some degree, Bob, I think that's exactly what this may be about -- finding the right environment or process or experience that sets off the "programming."
I'm glad you decided to repost this Slightly different spin than the first pass, I think, like Lon noted it sounds like your post refers more to 'beyond photography' than 'beyond light'. Anyways.. here's my little story.. which I think ties the two together, for me.
Growing up my parents took me on countless camping and backpacking trips, so I've always had an interest and love for nature. Meanwhile I did painting and several other forms of art. Eventually I picked up photography, and got really hooked on it, as it combined those two passions. As I joined forums and got more and more involved I found I started getting that 'find the good light bug'. Slowly I realized that that urge to 'get good light' was actually eating away at my enjoyment of the actual experience - I would get stressed out about getting good light, as I thought that that's what good photographs were about.
Lately, I believe that my photographs are not about light, rather they are about the subjects, places, emotions, and compositions that I am interested in. Light simply illuminates those subjects, usually in a way that best emphasizes the aspects I am most intrigued by. There is a subtle but important distinction here - I photograph the subject, rather than the light, whereas many proclaim to 'shoot the light'. It gets a little complicated in some circumstances when what I wish to capture is an emotion or experience largely dependent on the light, but again, I see that more as photographing the experience or emotion rather than the light. Incidentally, this is also why I enjoy light painting, as it lets me control how my subject is illuminated more directly.
This realization has allowed me to go back to my original interests without worrying about 'good light' - all light is good light! So I can get back to enjoying just being out there and savoring the experience. As a result I've found that I discover scenes that I would have overlooked given a different mentality - 'Gift of Life' - and come home happy from every 'photo' trip.
When I caught the landscape photography bug 5 or 6 years ago it was all about the image. All that mattered was making great pictures in beautiful places. I had detailed lists of places I wanted to visit...many as a result of wonderful images I saw on this site.
The problem with this approach for me was that it resulted in a high pressure approach to photography. When I visited a new location I felt a tremendous amount of pressure to get the shot. Don't get me wrong, I had some great trips and made some images I'm very proud of. It's just that my time was short and I had to make the most of it.
A few years ago I slowly came to the realization that what I valued most was not where I was but the simple act of being out in creation. I don't want to make this too religious but what I most get out of the experience of landscape photography is being out in nature and spending time alone with God. Landscape photography has become a much more spiritual experience...it slows me down and allows me to pay attention.
One result of this change in approach is that I don't travel too much anymore. I stick to my home state of Indiana (obviously not a landscape photography mecca) and visit locations over and over to really capture the essence of the place. It's hard and I do get discouraged at times when I start comparing my work to some of the amazing images in the ESS gallery. However, every once in a while everything comes together and I capture an image that makes it all worth while. I'm very thankful for those experiences.
Tony, a very insightful post. I was actually raised from an early age (4 or 5 years) in the woods with my father who was a lumberjack. We actually cleared the land and built the house we lived in in a very wild area in southeastern Arkansas. Even though my father never went to school and never learned to read and write he was a very wise man and knew more about nature than anyone I've ever met. He spent seventy years in the woods himself. I grew up from that age loving the outdoors and have done so all my life. I ended up studying botany and ecology in college and actually got started in photography as a way to document my research. The images I made in my first few years in photography (I''ve been doing it for over thirty years) were fairly dry and uninteresting. I finally figured out that you can document nature with aesthetically pleasing images and that is when my photography changed. I've spent a lot of time in nature backpacking and camping in remote areas and various other activities but I found that of all the activities I do in nature photography was the most rewarding. It is still more about being in nature but photography has become a large part of the experience. I don't think I could give up either.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on July 11, 2010 at 12:31 AM
First off Tony, I wish I could take your entire first paragraph and make it my signature... you worded that so well!
I so enjoy capturing the Creation before us and the amazing light that is never the same, and it's been the work of the artists on this site that, more than anything, that has gotten me out of 20 years of snapshooting. In fact, several are right here in this thread, such as Alain and Lon and Floris (Alain, your books are priceless), and you (Tony) and your Masks that I've purchased and the techniques I learned from using them. But like you said, there are times when what we know, and have learned, and DO pay off in a different way... for me it has been a couple of social gatherings where I just brought my camera "just in case", no pressure or expectation (I would never do a wedding on purpose, gasp! I don't even own a flash!), and it resulted in some images that I gave folks as memories of that event that for some even shed a tear (please, disregard the image I took or how I did it, it was the moment that I was fortunate to capture). How wonderful that we can affect people and give them something they can keep for a lifetime. Where it IS different technically that made the images stand out I think is that everyone else had a $100 point n shoot set on Auto, and doing a Shoot and Hope, whereas I'm using a 5D2 with L glass in natural light and post work in PS, plus applying the things we know regarding composition and lighting. So to them, they get picture (memories) that don't look like they are used to seeing everyday. It's gripping to see how much a photograph of an important event, taken properly as we know how to do, can affect someone positively. THAT'S a bonus to all of this I enjoy. Hope this makes sense.
Posted by Phillip Noll on July 11, 2010 at 2:33 AM
I have always been drawn to the wilderness but I guess I never really knew why until recently. I went camping a lot as a kid and studied geology in college so I would have opportunities to get out in the woods. When I'm not in the wilderness I'm just another stressed out, 10hr/day worker bee, trying to pay the mortgage, keep food in the fridge, tackle the honey-do list, and keep the car running.
But when I walk out of that world and into the "real" world (with or without a camera) something happens. A calmness settles in. I become alert with my senses heightened. I feel enveloped by a tremendous energy and I am energized by it. And a feeling that I rarely feel in the work-a-day world permeates every cell--joy. It is a spiritual connection to be sure. Perhaps not beyond light, but light itself?
Photography may have got me out there, but my experience is certainly beyond photography. In a sense, photography serves as a meditation to calm my mind and as a catalyst for unique experiences. It takes me to places I wouldn't normally go and at times and in conditions that I normally would avoid. But this sets me up for experiences that I normally wouldn't have. Experiences that reveal and teach.
So with my camera, a calm mind, and a heightened awareness I experience the solitude, the beauty of the landscape, the atmosphere charged with energy, and the drama that unfolds before me. I experience the sounds and smells, the light and color, the life all around me and also within me--all of it always changing. And these experiences bring to me a sense of connectedness--a feeling that I am a part of something greater than myself. Something that I cannot explain. But something that I know is real and good and true.
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
Henry David Thoreau
Posted by Nancy de Flon on July 11, 2010 at 10:35 AM
Tony, I can only echo everything you say. Photography is a major way (for me) of connecting with the Transcendent. As a wise spiritual director once observed about me, photography is my way of praying. In this sick, crazy world of distractions and multitasking, those times when I'm out there with my camera gear and my tripod are the ONLY times I feel that I am focused on ONE thing.
My photography is and always has been about conveying a sense of place. If through my photos I can convey something about a place to people who might otherwise never get to see it--or who may be inspired by my photos to go and see the real thing--then I've succeeded. Think, too, of the nature photographers who belong to organizations that exist to promote environmental awareness and save the beautiful places: if our work does this, then it has fulfilled a major purpose beyond its own existence.
Posted by Kah Kit Yoong on July 11, 2010 at 11:09 AM
My story is the reverse of many people here. I grew up in big cities. I had never gone on a hike and had no appreciation of the natural world, light and would never think to watch a sunset or sunrise. Nowadays I'm acutely aware of everything - the shapes of clouds overhead, patterns of light and shadow on the most mundane object, the way certain events or circumstances unfold as if there was a special order in the world. My travels take me to many locations, some of them large cities, some remote small towns that rarely see visitors. However it is only in the wilderness that I find real peace.
I don't know if this is quite what you're driving at or not, Tony, but just to piggyback on some of the thoughts that Lon expressed, I wrote this blog entry last fall, which deals with the recognition (on my part) of the "moment in time" aspect of photography.
The image that accompanies this entry is probably the best single example I can offer of actually being a part of one of those moments, metaphysically speaking. When I posted it in ESS a few years ago, accompanied by a description of what was going through my mind at the time, I remember that you remarked that it was evidence that I now knew what it was like to have gone "inside the rainbow," a notion that has stayed with me ever since. Perhaps that is the concept that you're alluding to here...
Posted by Tony Kuyper on July 11, 2010 at 12:07 PM
I certainly think that's part of it, Kerry, a big part maybe, especially if it put's you in touch with some larger concepts that you couldn't access before. I love Kah's story too in that, based on his pictures, I would have guessed he was a person who was practically born holding a camera. I had no idea he developed his "awareness" later on. I actually find resonance with his statement:
"I'm acutely aware of . . . the way certain events or circumstances unfold as if there was a special order in the world."
Maybe Kah was only talking about clouds and shadows, but I've had conversations with others that have alluded to this concept in very personal ways and it always intrigues me that there is a certain universality in what they say. It doesn't necessarily happen to everyone, I don't think, but when it hits, they know it, and their stories are in many ways remarkably similar. Maybe I just think about it too much, but there's something about photography that seems to help move me in this direction too.
What a great thread this is Tony, thanks for starting it! Of course there is more to being a nature photographer than just making pictures. To me being a nature photographer is a lifestyle, the lifestyle of my choice, not for the pictures per se, but for the connection with nature. I have always been a nature lover, even before photography and have been encouraged to, but only once I set foot in the unspoiled wilderness areas of southern Africa (I am from Holland) I knew this was where I wanted to be, this is where people belong, not in cities, but in the wild amongst the animals. Obviously our lives are too far advanced to really go back and live completely in the wild, besides that photography would have no significance there. But photography is for me a reason to learn more about nature and share the beauty of it with others, partly in the hope to create an awareness and respect for nature amongst other people the way it has developed within me, so that maybe one day people can live in harmony with nature rather than destroy it. The latter part sounds maybe a bit ambitious and I must admit that my pessimism about humanity in general stops me from being really ambitious about it in practical terms. Sometimes I also wish I would have been born many decades ago, when there were still many really unspoiled wilderness areas on this globe with plenty to really explore. Then again, without digital cameras would I really enjoy those long gone times as much as I long for them?
One thing is certain; I cannot and do not wish to go back to my days before photography came into my life as it has changed my lifestyle, my view on life, increased my love for nature, my hunger to learn and to explore; in essence it has changed my personality. One of the changes it affected is that it has made me more of a loner, which (maybe strangely enough) I do not mind at all.
The interesting thing about doing photography is that there comes a time, when you do this for a living like I do, when you can actually stop photographing and sell the photographs you created for the rest of your life.
However, that to me is unsatisfying. That is not what "doing photography" means to me. It has to include the act of photographing, the being out there in the landscape experiencing the ever changing landscape and being surprised by the endless variety of natural events and light qualities.
In fact, at this point it doesn't matter all that much to me if I come back from an outing with "keepers" or not. What matters is to be out there, with an open mind, to see what can happen, what I will witness on that new visit. The photographs, if they come, are icing on the cake.
The experience, the act of being out there, is what matters most. So much so that I purchased 200 acres of wilderness where I can go, "be there" and be free to do whatever I feel. No National park signs to dictate what I can and cannot do. And it's just as beautiful. In fact I have several properties within a half mile from National Park boundaries. Since nature doesn't "stop at the fence" so to speak, it's just like being in the park except I have no restrictions.
Posted by Robert Cubit on July 11, 2010 at 3:31 PM
Of all the replies so far, I derive the most hope for the future of the remaining wilderness areas from Kah’s statements:
My story is the reverse of many people here. I grew up in big cities. I had never gone on a hike and had no appreciation of the natural world, light and would never think to watch a sunset or sunrise…. However it is only in the wilderness that I find real peace.
My own childhood experience was much like Floris describes, with frequent family camping trips (my dad was an active rock hound and collected micro minerals from all over the southwest, with me in tow). I find it very encouraging that Kah developed his connection to nature later in life. His experience suggests that part of this need is indeed ‘pre-programmed’ into us, by nature rather than nature. So perhaps there is hope for all the folks who have spent their entire lives in large cities if, through our images, we can help them get past the initial fear of being away from civilization and let them experience wilderness long enough to make that connection. I can think of no better way to preserve what’s left of the world’s natural areas.
I agree. Not sure about the nature vs nurture relationship (that's an all together different discussion!) but I am also from a large city (Paris) and I also took trips to the countryside during vacations and weekends with my parents. I've balanced big cities and wilderness all my life (I like both).
Posted by Robert Cubit on July 11, 2010 at 5:00 PM
Alain, I certainly did not intend to imply that Kah’s experiences are in any way proof of a nature vs nurture relationship! I consider myself a life-long skeptic and a firm believer in the scientific method, which in cases like this require much more than a sample of one. I was merely attempting to express what I would like to be true!
Great question, Tony!
I have had thoughts/feelings similar to these floating around in my head for a while now. I wanted to put them to paper, but couldn't find the words to articulate the feelings properly. it is definately beyond/more than the light for me too. I think I have been on a journey for the last few years. A journey of self discovery in the pursuit of passion. I have become passionately involved in photography, but beyond that, it's the nature/wilderness experience that calls me to go out with the camera.
I have always had a connection to nature. It was introduced to me from family members when I was very young. But it didn't involve epic pack trips, just weekend jaunts to the coast, or drives into the country. I would go on nature walks with my Great Aunt who was a school teacher, and naturalist. She taught me to identify all the local wildflowers, and many of the animals too. I have always appreciated a great sunrise/sunset, or beautiful scene in nature. Photography has definately made me more aware of those things, and the more subtle nuances of light.
I think photography is what caused me to have a reason to venture into nature alone. Many times in the predawn hours making my way to my intended destination before the light. It is those times that I find have the most profound impact on me. I hear nothing at first, then the sounds of nature coming alive to greet the new day. Often it is cold, sometimes painfully so. Without some suffering, the experience would loose something I think. I tend to think about my life during those times, and reflect on where I have been, and where I want to go. Most intensely is the realization that it took me nearly forty years to come to this point in the journey. The realization that this is what I want to spend my time doing. Experiencing nature, with or witout camera in hand. Although I do like it when a nice image is part of the experience!!!!
I think the younger generations are at a loss when it comes to appreciating nature. Not all, but many, and I do generalize with my statement. But with all the electronic technology today, kids are not interested in nature walks, or extreme cold, or suffering of any kind today. The thought of summiting Mt. Whitney just because it's there would make most kids turn pale with a lack of enthusiasm. Me, I'm gonna haul my 230lb frame up that darn mountain! Maybe I'll wait til' I've trimmed my frame down to under 200lbs though!!!! But it's a goal I've set for myself. I will do it, this year or maybe the next.
So if there is hope for the future of our natural places, and the passion for them in the generations that are to come, it starts with us. Only through us can our children and some adults come to realize the gifts that come from appreciating the wilderness. I think photographs are a great way to make an initial connection. Then a hike through the redwoods, or one of the great areas of the southwest, or whatever
Well, I don't want to stray off the main thought. Yes, it is beyond the light. But it's the pursuit of the light that lead me to a greater appreciation.
I can relate Tony. I got to know a side of me that I felt was lurking for years, but it came out through photography. It became very clear to me that I like to create things. Molecules in the chemistry lab during my studies, polypropylene based products in my current day job and photographs in my spare time. I realized that I like to create via an interactive, feedback based process. A holistic approach as opposed to a linear and structured approach. I realized that things that make "sense" to me are the things that have an aesthetic appeal. In a way photography helped me to better understand what I think has true value and what has only superficial or capitalistic value.
Furthermore I experience the biggest frustration and the strongest sense of achievement when I pursue photography. Maybe it is to hard to say it is not about photography at all, but for me it is not about showing nature and not about experiencing nature. At least these are not in the closer sense. It is rather about exploring and observing and about creating and producing.
And, to be very honest, I think doing photography with an aesthetic goal and showing the results to the public is a process driven by a healthy dose of narcicism. A side of me I maybe only realized by doing photography and analyzing why I do it and enjoy it. This is just a short summary of my experiences and what I think drives me. I could elaborate on this more but I think I have not fully understood all of it yet, nor would I be capable of eloquently expressing it.
There are other simpler reasons like the fact that photography for me (and I guess for many others) combines technical aspects,science, nature and creativity (playing and experimenting) in a very fun way, but as briefly decribed above, this is a too simple explanation.
Great topic Tony, thanks!
-Dietrich
Posted by Kent Staubus on July 11, 2010 at 5:33 PM
Hmm. This thread catches me at a sort of crossroads as I prepare to leave on a long trip. In the past I planned trips around photography, and carried a LOT of photo gear along. Over the past three years my thinking has been changing though. We often go to unusual places for our family trips; my wife jokes that they are "National Geographic Vacations." My kids haven't always understood why we are on the top of the volcano at 13,000 ft. instead of the beach on Hawaii. My answer is, "Everyone is on the beach. We have the top all our ouselves." As my kids have grown, I've been changing my thinking though. I've been putting more time on them rather than taking photos. I've also cut down on what gear I take. As I've gained experience I know what I'll need and how to use what I have to get the shots I want. I now value flexibility and quickness. I've also been going sort of backwards on what gear I use too. For my trip I was considering buying a D700 and some different lenses, an expense of over $5,000. Instead serendipity intervened. My wife gave me her mother's 1959 vintage Kodak Brownie Hawkeye, a very simple camera with no adjustments and a plastic lens. That's what I've been using for the past six weeks almost exclusively! I've been getting some great creative shots with it. I'm looking for a 6x9 folding camera from the 1930s or earlier. Something like a Zeiss Ikon Cocarette Luxus, or Bessa R.
In the end, photography has remained a way for me to express my creativity, and for me to "show & tell" what I see in my daily travels. I don't limit myself to only remote places or to major cities; I see everything as a continuum. I've enjoyed photo'ing downtown Chicago, and I equally enjoyed photo'ing the eastern shore of Hudson Bay. In a few days I'll once again be leaving for a trip to the Arctic, my favorite region. I love the starkness and opportunity to use my outdoor skills and be on my own. I don't do tours. I haven't been to Iceland before, but it seems to have all the qualities that make it a perfect place to go. I'll bring my D300, three lenses, flash, and tripod. And, my Kodak Brownie. If I couldn't bring anything but the Brownie, I'd still go. I'm hoping that Iceland is as beautiful as its national anthem:
"To be a good photographer,
you must love life more
than you love photography."
--Joel Strasser
Posted by Mark Windom on July 11, 2010 at 11:55 PM
Photography cost me the long term price of a college education and I couldn't be more grateful.
I graduated with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and initially really enjoyed my work. However, as time went on it got to the point that I hated getting up in the morning and was so stressed at work that people couldn't stand being around me, including my wife.
I had been introduced to photography in junior high, was a darkroom assistant to the photog teacher and student photographer for the yearbook. But from High School on through college and the first few years of my medical career I never got near my camera
.
Midway through a particularly bad day at work I decided that I had had enough and walked out the door. With nowhere to turn career-wise I picked up my camera and have not looked back. My main emphasis has been stock which is undergoing some drastic and disturbing changes right now but photography has "forced" me to seek out places I never would have seen otherwise. No more, well maybe a little, stress; can't wait to get out of bed in the A.M.; work is no longer work.
I may have flushed the cost of a college education down the drain but the personal rewards and satisfaction far outway that cost and I am forever thankful. And, it probably saved my marriage....
I'll read the many answers to this thread after I have written mine. I'll not write it otherwise; and I wish to take part to this beautiful discussion for sharing my feelings, as a nature photographer.
Beyond the light, and the shade, what takes me out, in my garden or many miles away, is the exitement of all my senses when walking in the nature with the camera. In this mood, I feel and look at the nature in a different way: I enter in the nature, became a part of it; I am absorbed and I wander pretty sure to meet beauties and surprises, as in a magic place. Another feeling comes: the sensation of absolute freedom, because I can let my soul and my imagination go where they want, without control, in all the world around. Finally, I don't think; and I get out of time and space.
Many times I walk in the nature, I rise towards the tops of the mountains, but I can have these beautiful feelings only if the camera is with me.
But light, for me, matters again, Tony. My emotions expand when I get up in the night and walk watching at the horizon for the awakening sun and its light, that gives shapes and colors to the nature. Or at sunset, when all senses are exited at peak, running for steeling the last beauties before they disappear.
It's a pleasure to share one's emotions with others photogaphers that feel the same sensations.
Posted by Steve Kennedy on July 12, 2010 at 11:32 AM
I gave up photography over 25 years ago - life just got too complicated and stressful. Now my kids have grown up but the stress hasn't reduced, but I realized I didn't just give up photography, I gradually gave up all Nature related activities. I hadn't realized how much my photography was part of my outdoors life. Some peaceful core inside me was missing and I need it back. Over the last 2 years I've been gradually going back to the woods and the wilderness. Time is difficult but I go out when I can. I take my camera even when I know the light will be poor, because right now its more about being there. Very few of my photos come out the way I want but that's not really the important thing for me right now. It is getting more important so some day soon the outings will be about the photos and I'll get better results from my camera.
I think you put into words something that a lot of people feel. Landscape photography is much more than taking photographs. It is also, and often first and foremost, being out there in nature, in the wilderness, and experiencing everything that nature has to offer. It is visiting peaceful places and relaxing while there. Some call it meditating, but I think it comes naturally. Just being there, looking at the landscape, you start to relax, to let go of worries and concerns, and you start to think only of the landscape around you.
You find balance again, in many ways. The Navajos call it Hozhoni (beauty, beautiful), and it is at the center of their best known ceremony, the Beautyway. For them beauty is not just physical. It is also internal. At the core is the concept of balance. Walking in beauty, which is the central concept of the beautyway ceremony, means being in balance, being at peace with all things, be they natural or cultural. Being at peace with yourself, with your friends and relatives, with everyone you know.
I often think of this while I am photographing, and about how important "walking in beauty" is in regards to creating beautiful photographs. Eventually the images themselves will reflect this balance if they are done that way.
An appreciation of being alone but not lonely. I for one believe photography to be a highly personal endeavor and craft. To be appreciated to it’s full extent when unobtrusively connected with nature. Some may view photography as a more social type of activity and that is perfectly fine if being social is ones goal ahead of nature. Many use photography as a way to be social not as a way to learn and grow within the realms of the questions proposed. I have made friends and then lost them all with the confines of “photography”, much like life. I cherish friendship but if things don't work out I except that as how it should be.
To learn to feel surrounded by life yet standing miles from the nearest human is a gift that can only be recognized when far away from the hustle and bustled demands of this day and age. When the air is still and the land is at rest. Only then can one hear the speak of wildlife to a potential mate, whispers of the grass to the trees. Has photography led me to unexpected joys, absolutely. Can these be described here in this post, most likely not. But these are a few unexpected benefits that photography has given to me.
This topic has touched the hearts of many photographers looking at the very thoughtful comments in this thread. To me, there seems to be 2 parts to photography; the inner and the outer and both of these have been expressed here.
The inner part is going within and has been described in these threads as communion with nature, meditation, at peace, letting go, walking in beauty etc.. and I think this is what Tony is elluding to. All these can actually be achieved with or without photography; for music lovers, its beyond sound; food connoisseurs, its beyond taste; poetry lovers, it beyond words..etc. However, photography can be a catalyst (or excuse) for venturing into the nature; it also helps us focus more on the surrounding and appreciate the nuances which we would otherwise ignore if we are out there just for a hike. I think many of us can relate to the experience of single pointed concentration when composing a picture through the viewfinder and forgetting about everything else in our mind. This reminds me very much of the statement by a Zen master about "observed and observer becoming one"... at that moment, there is no observer and you forget about your 'self' and venture into the realm of emptiness/true reality. Before pressing the shutter, the image is formless (empty), shades of light, shadow and colors.
The outer part starts after the image has been captured. The image takes form and becomes a print or picture created by ME. This is where attachment, narcissism, marketing etc take shape. We are all very familiar with the outer part and even casual photographers/snapshooters can relate to this.
The inner and outer aspects of photography are intertwined and reminds me of a passage in the Heart Sutra; 'Form does not differ from emptiness
Emptiness does not differ from form
Form is emptiness
Emptiness is form'
We all have different emphasis on which is more important to us personally. Some would be happy to venture into nature to experience the changing light, to lose oneself and couldn't care about whether they had any keepers; others may put more emphasis on the outer aspects especially if they rely on photography economically. For me personally, photography is one of the many paths to emptiness.
Posted by Jim Hackley on July 14, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Very interesting post and reading. My response came to me almost instantly and yet is really very simple. I have been a hiker/backpacker most of my life. It seemed we were always in fast mode even during our hiking trips... get to the top, get to the campsite to setup, get in a fast 6 mile hike. Photography slowed me down to really appreciate what I was looking at, it was like a veil was lifted over my eyes. I could see beyond the trees and trail and really start to see what was out in nature. It opened up an entirely new world for me that had been there all along, I just could not see it for some reason and what an amazing world it is.
It has been a while now since I had time getting involved in discussion on NPN. I browse through the NPN site from time to time and still think it's one of the best photography sites on the internet. When photographing everything else is getting out of my head and after a few hours shooting I'm completely relaxed. This is one of the reasons I'm photographing but not the only reason.
I hope that I will be able to spend some more time here on NPN the place where I learned most things I know about photography.
Greetings to everyone.
Posted by Robert Cubit on July 30, 2010 at 5:28 PM
I recently purchased Guy Tal’s book Exposures, Views from both sides of the camera
This is one of the few books that has resonated so deeply with me that I have been reading it linearly, cover-to-cover. It is extremely rare that a photographic artist is able to simultaneously express so well in words the passion which is clear in his excellent images.
Earlier in this thread I offered this statement:
“I have often wondered if humans have some type of seldom used genetic ‘programming’ or wiring in the brain, that most folks who live in cities are not even aware of, which is only activated when we are in environments where the human race has lived throughout most of our history, until very recently.”
On the back cover of Guy’s book is one of his quotes that captures what I was attempting to say so much more eloquently than my words that I felt it would be the perfect punctuation mark to this thread (I hope he doesn’t mind me quoting him):
“We come to these places at first out of curiosity, maybe to seek inspiration or just to have our picture taken to prove we were there. Then, much like falling in love, an urge is born — an inner drive to go back, as though an ancient seed had awakened after a long drought. We don't quite know what it is we seek, but we hope an answer will present itself as we go back again and again, as familiarity grows into intimacy, as intimacy grows into love, and as love becomes an obsession.
And the answer? There is no answer. Or rather, the answer is so obvious that the question itself becomes moot: we come to these places because it feels right; because for millions of years we have evolved to be a part of them. It was not until recently that we placed ourselves into the confines of cities and offices and cubicles and assumed a manufactured existence. Something inside knows and recognizes that, whether we are conscious of it or not, coming into wilderness is coming back home.”
Guy Tal
Discussion
35 repliesAnd so, I'm curious as to other's experiences beyond light. Have you also had photography take you somewhere very good, but completely unexpected, that maybe isn't about photography at all? A realization of who you are or what you value or something that you didn't know, that would have been hard to access were it not for photography. In other words, what does photography offer, besides pictures?
(Note: This is a repost of some thoughts I tried to post last night. Still not sure if I got it right, but it's hard to find the words sometimes.)
(2nd note: Changed the original punctuation from a question mark (?) to an exclamation point (!) after the first day of replies. The thoughtfulness and depth of the responses are amazing, though not entirely unexpected given the quality of people that hang out here. I actually feel like I'm listening more than reading in that there are obviously some very heartfelt words and personal stories here. They remind me of a quiet conversation with a friend after hiking somewhere beautiful, where I hear things for the first time and silence is OK.)
For me, at least at first, four years ago, it was an opportunity to hunt in a non destructive way - something I enjoyed when I was young but gave up as I got older. It was also a substitute for target shooting and archery and still is. I rarely shoot a rifle or bow anymore. I enjoy looking through the viewfinder, focusing the lens, (I don't really enjoy autofocus much.), pinning the reticle to my focal point, slowing my breath and lightly pressing the shutter disturbing the camera as little as possible when I take the shot.
Of course I hope to like the images I'm creating in the process but that happens at least as much with the post processing software as it does with the camera - probably more so. And I love playing with the software, LR, PS, HelIcon Focus, Photomatix, all the NIk products and PS plugins I can get my hands on.
I mostly do photography so I can play with the images in the software. Photography hasn't changed my values in any significant way and my passion in life is still software development. The biggest discovery has been realizing that I enjoy playing with colors and shapes in order to convey mood and that I'm willing to spend the resources you mention above in order to do it.
Pat
Deciding to do what I love (photography) instead of what I thought I had to do (being an academic) to make a living has changed my life.
Is this an example of what you are asking?
Check my post on the Landscape Photography forum as to the approach we might take in those efforts. I will be curious as to how you might "label" yourself, Tony.
I saw your original post and then began pulling my hair out as I couldn't find it again... I'm glad you reposted so that I know I'm not going crazy.
I'll add my little twist here. I know of what you speak in terms of not only "beyond light," but I think what you're saying is really, "beyond photography." My twist doesn't take it far beyond photography because having the camera is part of my long-standing philosophy or motivation for my photography; and that is simply the notion or concept of time. Not time in how long it takes to accomplish something or the time of day, but time as it would be defined in the term, "a moment in time."
That part which goes beyond photography is the simple recognition of an instant of time being frozen forever on a piece of film (or memory card) and permanently embedded in my brain and soul. A piece of time, or history, that will never again be repeated. And I was a part of that moment. That moment could have been about light, or some dramatic scene; it could be about being with friends or a loved one, your pal Spot. It could also be just about being a part of nature at that given moment in time.
Also related to time and history, I am always thinking as I wander around in search of that great scene to photograph, who, or what has stepped on this very ground I am now walking upon? Ok, I don't get that feeling when I'm on the side of the road in Yosemite Valley, but whenever I'm off the beaten path, in the chaparral of the Eastern Sierra, I wonder, who has stepped in this spot before me? Has anyone sat upon this rock or leaned against this tree? I wonder.
Kinda out there I know... but in light of the two rather esoteric posts in the Landscape forum, I figured, what the heck... Let's see what others have to say.
Lon
From my own perspective, I often describe photography as my excuse to visit some of the few remaining wild areas in the American Southwest---the more remote the better. It is during camping trips to places like this that I have experienced the “mystical, magical, metaphorical” feelings you describe. And although I’ve taken some of my best (and worst) photographs in such locations, for me the true depth of these experiences have had little to do with photography. They have had such a profound effect on me throughout my life that I have come to refer to these remote places as “reality”. I have heard this same term used by more than one top photographer and one advanced rock climber. And I’m sure John Muir and Ansel Adams knew these feelings well.
In every job I’ve had when I tell one of my colleagues about my upcoming vacation plans to camp for several weeks in some remote desert or mountain location, they would invariably raise their eyebrows, develop a pained expression on their face and say, “but, but, what do you DO out there?!” All I could do is smile, shrug and say “photography”, knowing that they could never truly understand if I tried to explain what I have derived from these trips. I believe folks who have never dared to venture into such remote places have missed one of life’s most valuable experiences.
I have often wondered if humans have some type of seldom used genetic ‘programming’ or wiring in the brain, that most folks who live in cities are not even aware of, which is only activated when we are in environments where the human race has lived throughout most of our history, until very recently.
BTW, I’m writing this on my iPhone while sitting on the edge of the "marble bath" at the top of Steele Pass on the 4x4 road connecting Saline and Eureka Valleys!
Bob
To some degree, Bob, I think that's exactly what this may be about -- finding the right environment or process or experience that sets off the "programming."
Growing up my parents took me on countless camping and backpacking trips, so I've always had an interest and love for nature. Meanwhile I did painting and several other forms of art. Eventually I picked up photography, and got really hooked on it, as it combined those two passions. As I joined forums and got more and more involved I found I started getting that 'find the good light bug'. Slowly I realized that that urge to 'get good light' was actually eating away at my enjoyment of the actual experience - I would get stressed out about getting good light, as I thought that that's what good photographs were about.
Lately, I believe that my photographs are not about light, rather they are about the subjects, places, emotions, and compositions that I am interested in. Light simply illuminates those subjects, usually in a way that best emphasizes the aspects I am most intrigued by. There is a subtle but important distinction here - I photograph the subject, rather than the light, whereas many proclaim to 'shoot the light'. It gets a little complicated in some circumstances when what I wish to capture is an emotion or experience largely dependent on the light, but again, I see that more as photographing the experience or emotion rather than the light. Incidentally, this is also why I enjoy light painting, as it lets me control how my subject is illuminated more directly.
This realization has allowed me to go back to my original interests without worrying about 'good light' - all light is good light! So I can get back to enjoying just being out there and savoring the experience. As a result I've found that I discover scenes that I would have overlooked given a different mentality - 'Gift of Life' - and come home happy from every 'photo' trip.
The problem with this approach for me was that it resulted in a high pressure approach to photography. When I visited a new location I felt a tremendous amount of pressure to get the shot. Don't get me wrong, I had some great trips and made some images I'm very proud of. It's just that my time was short and I had to make the most of it.
A few years ago I slowly came to the realization that what I valued most was not where I was but the simple act of being out in creation. I don't want to make this too religious but what I most get out of the experience of landscape photography is being out in nature and spending time alone with God. Landscape photography has become a much more spiritual experience...it slows me down and allows me to pay attention.
One result of this change in approach is that I don't travel too much anymore. I stick to my home state of Indiana (obviously not a landscape photography mecca) and visit locations over and over to really capture the essence of the place. It's hard and I do get discouraged at times when I start comparing my work to some of the amazing images in the ESS gallery. However, every once in a while everything comes together and I capture an image that makes it all worth while. I'm very thankful for those experiences.
Mike
I so enjoy capturing the Creation before us and the amazing light that is never the same, and it's been the work of the artists on this site that, more than anything, that has gotten me out of 20 years of snapshooting. In fact, several are right here in this thread, such as Alain and Lon and Floris (Alain, your books are priceless), and you (Tony) and your Masks that I've purchased and the techniques I learned from using them. But like you said, there are times when what we know, and have learned, and DO pay off in a different way... for me it has been a couple of social gatherings where I just brought my camera "just in case", no pressure or expectation (I would never do a wedding on purpose, gasp! I don't even own a flash!), and it resulted in some images that I gave folks as memories of that event that for some even shed a tear (please, disregard the image I took or how I did it, it was the moment that I was fortunate to capture). How wonderful that we can affect people and give them something they can keep for a lifetime. Where it IS different technically that made the images stand out I think is that everyone else had a $100 point n shoot set on Auto, and doing a Shoot and Hope, whereas I'm using a 5D2 with L glass in natural light and post work in PS, plus applying the things we know regarding composition and lighting. So to them, they get picture (memories) that don't look like they are used to seeing everyday. It's gripping to see how much a photograph of an important event, taken properly as we know how to do, can affect someone positively. THAT'S a bonus to all of this I enjoy. Hope this makes sense.
But when I walk out of that world and into the "real" world (with or without a camera) something happens. A calmness settles in. I become alert with my senses heightened. I feel enveloped by a tremendous energy and I am energized by it. And a feeling that I rarely feel in the work-a-day world permeates every cell--joy. It is a spiritual connection to be sure. Perhaps not beyond light, but light itself?
Photography may have got me out there, but my experience is certainly beyond photography. In a sense, photography serves as a meditation to calm my mind and as a catalyst for unique experiences. It takes me to places I wouldn't normally go and at times and in conditions that I normally would avoid. But this sets me up for experiences that I normally wouldn't have. Experiences that reveal and teach.
So with my camera, a calm mind, and a heightened awareness I experience the solitude, the beauty of the landscape, the atmosphere charged with energy, and the drama that unfolds before me. I experience the sounds and smells, the light and color, the life all around me and also within me--all of it always changing. And these experiences bring to me a sense of connectedness--a feeling that I am a part of something greater than myself. Something that I cannot explain. But something that I know is real and good and true.
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
Henry David Thoreau
My photography is and always has been about conveying a sense of place. If through my photos I can convey something about a place to people who might otherwise never get to see it--or who may be inspired by my photos to go and see the real thing--then I've succeeded. Think, too, of the nature photographers who belong to organizations that exist to promote environmental awareness and save the beautiful places: if our work does this, then it has fulfilled a major purpose beyond its own existence.
The image that accompanies this entry is probably the best single example I can offer of actually being a part of one of those moments, metaphysically speaking. When I posted it in ESS a few years ago, accompanied by a description of what was going through my mind at the time, I remember that you remarked that it was evidence that I now knew what it was like to have gone "inside the rainbow," a notion that has stayed with me ever since. Perhaps that is the concept that you're alluding to here...
One thing is certain; I cannot and do not wish to go back to my days before photography came into my life as it has changed my lifestyle, my view on life, increased my love for nature, my hunger to learn and to explore; in essence it has changed my personality. One of the changes it affected is that it has made me more of a loner, which (maybe strangely enough) I do not mind at all.
However, that to me is unsatisfying. That is not what "doing photography" means to me. It has to include the act of photographing, the being out there in the landscape experiencing the ever changing landscape and being surprised by the endless variety of natural events and light qualities.
In fact, at this point it doesn't matter all that much to me if I come back from an outing with "keepers" or not. What matters is to be out there, with an open mind, to see what can happen, what I will witness on that new visit. The photographs, if they come, are icing on the cake.
The experience, the act of being out there, is what matters most. So much so that I purchased 200 acres of wilderness where I can go, "be there" and be free to do whatever I feel. No National park signs to dictate what I can and cannot do. And it's just as beautiful. In fact I have several properties within a half mile from National Park boundaries. Since nature doesn't "stop at the fence" so to speak, it's just like being in the park except I have no restrictions.
My own childhood experience was much like Floris describes, with frequent family camping trips (my dad was an active rock hound and collected micro minerals from all over the southwest, with me in tow). I find it very encouraging that Kah developed his connection to nature later in life. His experience suggests that part of this need is indeed ‘pre-programmed’ into us, by nature rather than nature. So perhaps there is hope for all the folks who have spent their entire lives in large cities if, through our images, we can help them get past the initial fear of being away from civilization and let them experience wilderness long enough to make that connection. I can think of no better way to preserve what’s left of the world’s natural areas.
Bob
I agree. Not sure about the nature vs nurture relationship (that's an all together different discussion!) but I am also from a large city (Paris) and I also took trips to the countryside during vacations and weekends with my parents. I've balanced big cities and wilderness all my life (I like both).
Bob
I have had thoughts/feelings similar to these floating around in my head for a while now. I wanted to put them to paper, but couldn't find the words to articulate the feelings properly. it is definately beyond/more than the light for me too. I think I have been on a journey for the last few years. A journey of self discovery in the pursuit of passion. I have become passionately involved in photography, but beyond that, it's the nature/wilderness experience that calls me to go out with the camera.
I have always had a connection to nature. It was introduced to me from family members when I was very young. But it didn't involve epic pack trips, just weekend jaunts to the coast, or drives into the country. I would go on nature walks with my Great Aunt who was a school teacher, and naturalist. She taught me to identify all the local wildflowers, and many of the animals too. I have always appreciated a great sunrise/sunset, or beautiful scene in nature. Photography has definately made me more aware of those things, and the more subtle nuances of light.
I think photography is what caused me to have a reason to venture into nature alone. Many times in the predawn hours making my way to my intended destination before the light. It is those times that I find have the most profound impact on me. I hear nothing at first, then the sounds of nature coming alive to greet the new day. Often it is cold, sometimes painfully so. Without some suffering, the experience would loose something I think. I tend to think about my life during those times, and reflect on where I have been, and where I want to go. Most intensely is the realization that it took me nearly forty years to come to this point in the journey. The realization that this is what I want to spend my time doing. Experiencing nature, with or witout camera in hand. Although I do like it when a nice image is part of the experience!!!!
I think the younger generations are at a loss when it comes to appreciating nature. Not all, but many, and I do generalize with my statement. But with all the electronic technology today, kids are not interested in nature walks, or extreme cold, or suffering of any kind today. The thought of summiting Mt. Whitney just because it's there would make most kids turn pale with a lack of enthusiasm. Me, I'm gonna haul my 230lb frame up that darn mountain! Maybe I'll wait til' I've trimmed my frame down to under 200lbs though!!!! But it's a goal I've set for myself. I will do it, this year or maybe the next.
So if there is hope for the future of our natural places, and the passion for them in the generations that are to come, it starts with us. Only through us can our children and some adults come to realize the gifts that come from appreciating the wilderness. I think photographs are a great way to make an initial connection. Then a hike through the redwoods, or one of the great areas of the southwest, or whatever
Well, I don't want to stray off the main thought. Yes, it is beyond the light. But it's the pursuit of the light that lead me to a greater appreciation.
Thanks,
Chris
Furthermore I experience the biggest frustration and the strongest sense of achievement when I pursue photography. Maybe it is to hard to say it is not about photography at all, but for me it is not about showing nature and not about experiencing nature. At least these are not in the closer sense. It is rather about exploring and observing and about creating and producing.
And, to be very honest, I think doing photography with an aesthetic goal and showing the results to the public is a process driven by a healthy dose of narcicism. A side of me I maybe only realized by doing photography and analyzing why I do it and enjoy it. This is just a short summary of my experiences and what I think drives me. I could elaborate on this more but I think I have not fully understood all of it yet, nor would I be capable of eloquently expressing it.
There are other simpler reasons like the fact that photography for me (and I guess for many others) combines technical aspects,science, nature and creativity (playing and experimenting) in a very fun way, but as briefly decribed above, this is a too simple explanation.
Great topic Tony, thanks!
-Dietrich
In the end, photography has remained a way for me to express my creativity, and for me to "show & tell" what I see in my daily travels. I don't limit myself to only remote places or to major cities; I see everything as a continuum. I've enjoyed photo'ing downtown Chicago, and I equally enjoyed photo'ing the eastern shore of Hudson Bay. In a few days I'll once again be leaving for a trip to the Arctic, my favorite region. I love the starkness and opportunity to use my outdoor skills and be on my own. I don't do tours. I haven't been to Iceland before, but it seems to have all the qualities that make it a perfect place to go. I'll bring my D300, three lenses, flash, and tripod. And, my Kodak Brownie. If I couldn't bring anything but the Brownie, I'd still go. I'm hoping that Iceland is as beautiful as its national anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDKy-vf0JDc
Kent in SD
"To be a good photographer,
you must love life more
than you love photography."
--Joel Strasser
I graduated with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and initially really enjoyed my work. However, as time went on it got to the point that I hated getting up in the morning and was so stressed at work that people couldn't stand being around me, including my wife.
I had been introduced to photography in junior high, was a darkroom assistant to the photog teacher and student photographer for the yearbook. But from High School on through college and the first few years of my medical career I never got near my camera
.
Midway through a particularly bad day at work I decided that I had had enough and walked out the door. With nowhere to turn career-wise I picked up my camera and have not looked back. My main emphasis has been stock which is undergoing some drastic and disturbing changes right now but photography has "forced" me to seek out places I never would have seen otherwise. No more, well maybe a little, stress; can't wait to get out of bed in the A.M.; work is no longer work.
I may have flushed the cost of a college education down the drain but the personal rewards and satisfaction far outway that cost and I am forever thankful. And, it probably saved my marriage....
Beyond the light, and the shade, what takes me out, in my garden or many miles away, is the exitement of all my senses when walking in the nature with the camera. In this mood, I feel and look at the nature in a different way: I enter in the nature, became a part of it; I am absorbed and I wander pretty sure to meet beauties and surprises, as in a magic place. Another feeling comes: the sensation of absolute freedom, because I can let my soul and my imagination go where they want, without control, in all the world around. Finally, I don't think; and I get out of time and space.
Many times I walk in the nature, I rise towards the tops of the mountains, but I can have these beautiful feelings only if the camera is with me.
But light, for me, matters again, Tony. My emotions expand when I get up in the night and walk watching at the horizon for the awakening sun and its light, that gives shapes and colors to the nature. Or at sunset, when all senses are exited at peak, running for steeling the last beauties before they disappear.
It's a pleasure to share one's emotions with others photogaphers that feel the same sensations.
I hope this makes sense.
I think you put into words something that a lot of people feel. Landscape photography is much more than taking photographs. It is also, and often first and foremost, being out there in nature, in the wilderness, and experiencing everything that nature has to offer. It is visiting peaceful places and relaxing while there. Some call it meditating, but I think it comes naturally. Just being there, looking at the landscape, you start to relax, to let go of worries and concerns, and you start to think only of the landscape around you.
You find balance again, in many ways. The Navajos call it Hozhoni (beauty, beautiful), and it is at the center of their best known ceremony, the Beautyway. For them beauty is not just physical. It is also internal. At the core is the concept of balance. Walking in beauty, which is the central concept of the beautyway ceremony, means being in balance, being at peace with all things, be they natural or cultural. Being at peace with yourself, with your friends and relatives, with everyone you know.
I often think of this while I am photographing, and about how important "walking in beauty" is in regards to creating beautiful photographs. Eventually the images themselves will reflect this balance if they are done that way.
To learn to feel surrounded by life yet standing miles from the nearest human is a gift that can only be recognized when far away from the hustle and bustled demands of this day and age. When the air is still and the land is at rest. Only then can one hear the speak of wildlife to a potential mate, whispers of the grass to the trees. Has photography led me to unexpected joys, absolutely. Can these be described here in this post, most likely not. But these are a few unexpected benefits that photography has given to me.
The inner part is going within and has been described in these threads as communion with nature, meditation, at peace, letting go, walking in beauty etc.. and I think this is what Tony is elluding to. All these can actually be achieved with or without photography; for music lovers, its beyond sound; food connoisseurs, its beyond taste; poetry lovers, it beyond words..etc. However, photography can be a catalyst (or excuse) for venturing into the nature; it also helps us focus more on the surrounding and appreciate the nuances which we would otherwise ignore if we are out there just for a hike. I think many of us can relate to the experience of single pointed concentration when composing a picture through the viewfinder and forgetting about everything else in our mind. This reminds me very much of the statement by a Zen master about "observed and observer becoming one"... at that moment, there is no observer and you forget about your 'self' and venture into the realm of emptiness/true reality. Before pressing the shutter, the image is formless (empty), shades of light, shadow and colors.
The outer part starts after the image has been captured. The image takes form and becomes a print or picture created by ME. This is where attachment, narcissism, marketing etc take shape. We are all very familiar with the outer part and even casual photographers/snapshooters can relate to this.
The inner and outer aspects of photography are intertwined and reminds me of a passage in the Heart Sutra;
'Form does not differ from emptiness
Emptiness does not differ from form
Form is emptiness
Emptiness is form'
We all have different emphasis on which is more important to us personally. Some would be happy to venture into nature to experience the changing light, to lose oneself and couldn't care about whether they had any keepers; others may put more emphasis on the outer aspects especially if they rely on photography economically. For me personally, photography is one of the many paths to emptiness.
I hope that I will be able to spend some more time here on NPN the place where I learned most things I know about photography.
Greetings to everyone.
This is one of the few books that has resonated so deeply with me that I have been reading it linearly, cover-to-cover. It is extremely rare that a photographic artist is able to simultaneously express so well in words the passion which is clear in his excellent images.
Earlier in this thread I offered this statement:
On the back cover of Guy’s book is one of his quotes that captures what I was attempting to say so much more eloquently than my words that I felt it would be the perfect punctuation mark to this thread (I hope he doesn’t mind me quoting him):
In case anyone is interested, I wrote about this same theme in my recent blog post as well:
Coming Home
Guy