Environments

The picture above is a "sketchbook" image, shot on a pocket digital camera, of a scene that I hope to return to in a few days with my view camera. The scene is extremely interesting because of it's dichotomy. It looks like a picture of nature, but the place is completely contrived by humans. This place didn't exist ten years ago...it was a farmer's field, not an elevated lake plateau. What was it before it was a farmer's field? This is a good question and the answer predates my existence. I suppose I could do some research.

I have been thinking a lot lately about how people relate to the earth and the "environment." This theme has been mentioned before on this blog and it seems to keep popping up in my work. I find it fascinating to think about. Some books I have been reading these days are telling me some very interesting things about how this earth-human relationship may work...... all theories of mere mortals of course.

The books are not about photography at all, and at best, just remotely related to art. This is not a bad thing.

They are books about anthropology, and other stuff, and they make mention about the landscape being a record of human history.....and about how humans create environments for themselves that have an effect on their evolution through time, both culturally and genetically. I have theories of my own to add....and some ideas for pictures.

One's work too, evolves:

If you look through this blog, you see that I photograph a variety of things, and to paraphrase what Steve Jobs said in that Stanford University commencement speech in 2005, I am looking backwards and beginning to connect the dots in order to find faith in the future of my work.

I reiterate that refining vision is what is important and you have to believe it will all come together at some point.

It is important and helpful to be able to discuss your work and the motivations for it, both to help others understand what you are doing, and to help yourself connect those dots.....maybe with some thoughtful input along the way from people with useful comments.

Some of the Technical:

Like I said.... I often use a digital camera to make "sketchpad photos" in order to store ideas for pictures and to conceptualize my images a little, so when I show up with that 20-pound backpack and a bunch of expensive sheet film, it doesn't go to waste. These sketchpad photos are often what end up here on the blog. They are not always perfect and I am okay with that. This blog is about doing work and making progress, not always the end result.

So...for the camera that made the shot above:

Camera: Olympus C5050Z---Old but excellent camera for 4X5 shooters...almost the exact same frame proportions!

Exposure(Right from the File info!!!): ISO 64, BW mode, RAW file setting, 10.5mm lens, F/4.0 at 1/800 sec (manual Exposure mode)

Also of note...Photoshop of course...though I am heavy on analog(in my personal work)...I have been using photoshop to "process" my digital sketchpad images in a way that achieves a look I would like to aim for with the final print....when I re-shoot on film and create my final prints in the traditional method in a wet darkroom.