Before getting into the topic of Originality in Landscape Photography, I want to do a bit of quick housekeeping. Before the housekeeping, here’s a recent photo. Housekeeping #1: My workshops have been filling up quickly in the past few years, but I’ve also been getting a regular number of cancellations. It’s about two per workshop. If there’s a workshop you want to take, email me to get onto the waiting list. I recently had cancellations on five workshops. Three were filled from the waiting lists. These workshops had waiting lists but the people on them had already made other plans:
I agree! But then, I came to photography through my fascination with nature. The more time I spent in nature, the more I noticed new things, or noticed familiar things in new ways. Then I wanted to photograph that to share it with others, and to reminisce over later. Then the act of photographing something would prompt me to notice something new, or something familiar in a new way...etc :) I think maybe there's a path that says, "I'm going to do photography. What should I photograph?" that kind of leads to a lot of those iconic retreads. But then there's a path that I prefer that says, "I'm going to look around and be amazed. Hey, this camera is a useful tool for exploring amazement!" Thanks for encouraging the wonder :)
Bryan, to continue our conversation from your previous post, I agree that we should try to be orginal, and I don't know why people would be satisfied with less. It doesn't take much.
There are a couple of iconic photo locations near me where there are limited options for compositions. For example, there is particular tree fern on a fire track on the Black Spur - been there, couldn't find anything different so didn't even take my camera out of the bag. Not when there is literally millions of other tree ferns just waiting to be shot.
Always engaging, helps to relieve pressure occasionally. Especially like your comments on delveloping new friends as an important part of what your classes do. Invaluable in my opinion. In addition to your masterful skill and approach to teaching the people you meet bring their collective skills and experiences which are also imparted to others through conversation and interaction during the secessions.
Haha I enjoyed the newsletter and don’t mind people of a certain age ranting! When I was young, we used draw our pictures on walls, inside caves, and we liked it! Nowadays, everybody has those newfangled caaaameras, they take selfies of themselves, they post to those flibbidy-jibbidy insta-accounts, and call everyTHING iconic, endless potential, my butt!
Now that I'm in my early 50s, I feel that I can rant freely. But, I've been ranting forever. There are some classic rants under the category "tent bound" on my PaddlingLight website. Those go back to my 30s. 🙂
I am curious where your 2025 workshops are, because I think it's time for me to attend another one. :) (this year was always very unlikely because of my planned Scotland trip, unless you do something in December in Death Valley and I manage to have enough PTO to swing it)
I agree! But then, I came to photography through my fascination with nature. The more time I spent in nature, the more I noticed new things, or noticed familiar things in new ways. Then I wanted to photograph that to share it with others, and to reminisce over later. Then the act of photographing something would prompt me to notice something new, or something familiar in a new way...etc :) I think maybe there's a path that says, "I'm going to do photography. What should I photograph?" that kind of leads to a lot of those iconic retreads. But then there's a path that I prefer that says, "I'm going to look around and be amazed. Hey, this camera is a useful tool for exploring amazement!" Thanks for encouraging the wonder :)
Bryan, to continue our conversation from your previous post, I agree that we should try to be orginal, and I don't know why people would be satisfied with less. It doesn't take much.
There are a couple of iconic photo locations near me where there are limited options for compositions. For example, there is particular tree fern on a fire track on the Black Spur - been there, couldn't find anything different so didn't even take my camera out of the bag. Not when there is literally millions of other tree ferns just waiting to be shot.
Your housekeeping is appreciated
Always engaging, helps to relieve pressure occasionally. Especially like your comments on delveloping new friends as an important part of what your classes do. Invaluable in my opinion. In addition to your masterful skill and approach to teaching the people you meet bring their collective skills and experiences which are also imparted to others through conversation and interaction during the secessions.
Haha I enjoyed the newsletter and don’t mind people of a certain age ranting! When I was young, we used draw our pictures on walls, inside caves, and we liked it! Nowadays, everybody has those newfangled caaaameras, they take selfies of themselves, they post to those flibbidy-jibbidy insta-accounts, and call everyTHING iconic, endless potential, my butt!
Now that I'm in my early 50s, I feel that I can rant freely. But, I've been ranting forever. There are some classic rants under the category "tent bound" on my PaddlingLight website. Those go back to my 30s. 🙂
I hadn't heard about Lutsen Resort burning down yet. That really makes me sad. The last time I was there was about 6-7 years ago; such a cool spot.
I am curious where your 2025 workshops are, because I think it's time for me to attend another one. :) (this year was always very unlikely because of my planned Scotland trip, unless you do something in December in Death Valley and I manage to have enough PTO to swing it)
I haven't decided 100%, yet, but I'll be finalizing everything next month. There's a tentative list on my website.