Landscape Photographers
Many thanks to Dudley, who was on my Harris workshop this November for sending me this today.
What I love about the workshops is that everyone has their own style, and interest in photography. Dudley had spent most of his time up until the Harris workshop doing portraiture and flash. As is often the case, I find people coming on my trips who aren’t obvious landscape photographers – as you can see here – Dudley was far too interested in taking pictures of the rest of the group (me included) while we were busy making images.
In September I had a group of photographers from all over – Australia, America, Denmark, Switzerland…. and the same thing applied. Christian is an architect by trade and said to me on his first day that he was ‘interested in architecture, but not really landscape’.
By the end of the trips however, I had two converts: Christian was enthusiastic about the landscape and from what I saw of his work – had ’got it’.
Likewise with Dudley – for someone who’d only been into portraiture and flash, I think the trip had awakened a realisation that there was a landscape photographer inside him.
Needless to say, I’m not used to being the subject of a photograph, but I’m going to have to get used to it, as I’m sure it’s not the last time someone on my workshops wants to ‘document’ the trip. :-)
I love this triptych that Dudley has put together of me though – even though I seem to have bandy legs, or a strange way of standing behind my camera!
Christian, Dudley, stunning shots, guys! For a while I felt myself there, Thanks!
Comment by Vladimir Donkov — 21 December, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
Hi Vladimir,
Yes, I think both those shots are really lovely too. It’s always a real pleasure when I get to see some great images by members of the workshops – either during our time, or shortly afterwards. What is most interesting is not everyone takes the same shot – there’s so much potential…. but these images really caught my eye.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 21 December, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
Hi Bruce,
I think we all have different way of looking at the objects, not only the photographers, but everybody.
I remember when I was a kid, with my friends we were watching a cloud in the blue sky and discussing to what it looks like – one have seen an elephant in the cloud, one have seen it as a car… Another guy was staying with us, but looking in the direction of a nice girl…
So, I think this is the first of the three steps in the landscape photography:
1. A skill to “see” the shot
2. A patience to work on the shot, to approach the best spot/viewpoint never ming how tough could be this, then waiting for the best Light and composing the scene in the frame
3. Creating your own unique style to express what you’ve done in 1. and 2.
You may disagree or add some more and more rows, I guess.
Best,
Vladimir
Comment by Vladimir Donkov — 21 December, 2009 @ 2:32 pm
Hi Vladimir,
Yes – I totally agree.
I think what I love about the workshops, is that it gives people a chance to see other peoples work from the same locations…. that allows them to realise that the biggest barrier in making images is not the landscape – it is ourselves! :-)
Comment by Bruce Percy — 21 December, 2009 @ 2:45 pm
It is true that I have stared at my images since I returned from Harris. I’ve even been offered money for one! I’ll always be grateful to you Bruce for opening my eyes. My images from the first morning were nothing to write home about but after the first critique I think I knew what I had to do to improve. Without the group participation in the critiques I would have struggled with this. I’m currently sat in an office in London wanting to be outside. : (
Comment by duggy2 — 21 December, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
Really nice to see you in action for a change! Never mind the look of bandy legs. Guess you’ve got to take some compromise when the tripod is too low to just bend, but still too high to kneel.. but the way Dudley caught you are very nice shots. Looking very dynamic ;-). Nice blog.
Comment by Redhair — 21 December, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
Hi Dudley, you’re welcome. Very nice of you to mention this on my blog. :-)
Comment by Bruce Percy — 21 December, 2009 @ 11:59 pm
Hi Sonja,
My legs are really bandy…. LOL ! :-)
Comment by Bruce Percy — 21 December, 2009 @ 11:59 pm