There's something about being out in the stormy weather isn't there. I'm with you on coming back and feeling alive.
This project sounds really interesting. With regards to depicting emotions, the idea of feeling fearful may not come from being in the place itself, but from the idea of say the shifting land or the degradation through climate of the specific place. This could be as simple as written statement alongside the image where we are answering questions such as "what do I fear here?" or "what brings joy at this moment in time?".
I like the idea of stretching your creativity and look forward to seeing where this takes you, and how the project evolves.
Thank you very much Daniel, that really helps. I think I have a tendency to make things too literal so it was interesting to ready your ideas. It's definitely good to stretch our creativity. I think if we stay inside our comfort zone all the time we never grow as photographers.
Beautifully written and beautiful images Gill. I love and get really excited by stormy weather especially as I live right down on the south west tip of Cornwall. Big waves and a bit of sunshine to light them up is a perfect day for me but I do ending pressing the shutter button too often. You always believe the next wave will be more spectacular.
Thank you very much Peter. I agree, you can't beat a stormy day on the coast and Cornwall is lovely so I can understand why you always take too many photos! 🙂
Beautifully written Gill. I love a storm as well, partly because of the interesting images that can be made but also because it is so exhilarating.
Love that list of emotions - I am really looking forward to seeing how your project progresses. Can I suggest that you are not trying to impose an emotion on the landscape. You are trying (using whatever tricks you have up your sleeve) to create an emotion in the viewer. Is that any better ethically? I'm not sure but that's why it's art ("It's the viewer that makes the work." Marcel Duchamp)
Thank you so much for your comments James and I am glad you enjoyed the post.
Your points are really helpful and I hadn't thought about it in the same way, but you are absolutely right. I also hadn't heard that quote before but it is so true. Thank you for sharing.
You pose an interesting question re imposing an emotion on a landscape Gill. To me there is no emotion in a landscape. We impose our emotions onto a scene, and that becomes our emotional connection to it. The landscape is just that, a landscape, manipulated by human intervention perhaps, or (something I have never seen) pristine and influenced only by nature. They don’t to me have an emotion, they are just what they are. However, there is emotion present in the act of taking that photograph, our own emotional connection, and that seeps through into the image or the story of the image. I look at photographs that I have taken, and know where I was, how I felt, and the memory will remain until I lose my grip on reality. But it’s mine, not the landscapes, the landscape inspires me, fascinates me, but it’s my human interpretation / experience that I feel. Which is good, and perfectly valid! I ask myself, what would an otter see, or a badger in this landscape, opportunity, food, shelter, not emotion though I think. Great question, oh so many late nights could be spent debating this one:) Wonderful essay, and photographs, just inspiring, thank you:)
Thank you so much for this Sarah, that has really helped clarify things in my mind. You are absolutely right but I had never really thought about it in this way. It is our response to the landscape that gives it its emotion - whatever that may be at the time.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and I am glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
I think it's more a case of the landscape evoking an emotion within you rather than you imposing an emotion on it - you're responding to how the landscape, and what you are seeing, makes you feel.
Thank you very much for your comments Lynn. Yes it does, but I suppose I was questioning whether it is ok to alter those emotions and portray the place in a different way to the emotion felt at the time. For example a wood could feel frightening because it is dark and foggy but my emotion at the time may not have been fear.
Ah, I see. I personally wouldn't have a problem with that because we can interpret things differently depending on our mood, whether that is when taking the image or later when processing. And the viewer doesn't know what mood was evoked in you when taking the image, they only see what is before them, not necessarily interpreting it in the way that you intended. The phrase 'artistic licence' can come in handy 🙂
I’m always reminded when out taking shots with the word that I always take with me. Belonging, it’s really made up of two words Belong and Longing and I feel wrapped up in these one/two words are our emotions. To belong is to find that place or location that brings something that touches or reminds us of someone or an experience and the longing is what are we trying to feel that ultimately tells a story and allows the viewer to get in touch with their own emotions. I’m afraid for me it’s work in progress and I’m always too quick and need to standstill and let the moment touch me first. Thank you for highlighting this fascinating topic.
Love the sound of sea on shingle. Always love places like Weybourne and Salthouse/Cley on a stormy day. Gorgeous images as always Gill. I particularly like the first longer exposure sea image.
Thank you very much Jon, I am glad you enjoyed the images.
I completely agree, there is nothing like a beach on a stormy day and you have some lovely ones on the Norfolk coast. I must get up there a bit more often! 🙂
Lovely images Gill. I particularly like the slower shutter speed shots of the waves, as they really give a feeling of movement and a stormy sea. A project is a great idea and something that I’ve thought about doing but have never got around to it, yet. I need to get my thinking cap on and decide on a subject.
Thank you very much for your comments David, I am glad you enjoyed the images. I particularly liked the slow shutter speeds. I worked at about 1/20 second and really enjoyed how much texture this gave the waves.
You should definitely have a go at a project, it really focuses your image making.
Beautiful images. I like to think less about us humans imposing our emotions on the landscape, and more about being receptive to the unique and innate intelligence the landscape has, and what that may convey onto us. It should be a reciprocal interaction.
Thank you very much for your comments Jenna and I completely agree. I wouldn't want to impose my emotions onto a landscape, my photography is very much about tapping into the emotions that the landscape offers me. 🙂
In the first part of your text you note returning home “feeling windswept, cold, but so alive”… I can relate, as photo excursions often leave me with an ineffable sense of aliveness (though sometimes in a more quiet, “awareness” kind of way). Maybe the practice of relating to a place through photography makes one aware of the emotions that get stirred.
I think that’s also why people buy photos - because the images stir their emotions in some way. But not necessarily in the way that it does for the photographer, perhaps. I’m interested to know what you discover in the process.
Thank you very much for your comments Mike. I think you are right, when we make images in the landscape we are more in tune with our emotions and we pay attention to what we are feeling. Emotion is also very much the reason why people buy images.
Another beautiful set of images Gill. Re your connection project and 'imposing' emotions on the landscape...my view is that landscapes evoke many emotions positive and negative so a book would have to show both sides in order to show the reality of the landscape. For me I would just say be true to yourself and produce images that evoke the rawness of each emotion, if that makes sense. Photographers that produce this sort of work, rather than just the images made through 'rose tinted ' glasses, would probably feel more satisfied knowing they had been true to their feelings rather than producing work that the masses want to see. Its certainly a tough dilemma to keep everyone happy, but ultimately its the photographer/artist/writer/creative who needs to be happy first and foremost. Looking forward to seeing the results of this project.
Good to know Gill...as an aside, after being a reader for a year, I've just started my own photography publication, Spirit of Place, and put up my first introductory post. It's a huge learning curve but I'm looking forward to the journey!
I went to Big Hole Montana two times. This is where a battle took place between the US army and the Nez Perce who up to this point had successfully eluded them.
Both times I was there all alone, which allowed me to completely experience the feelings evoked by the scene before me.
The first time was overwhelming grief then connection as I viewed and photographed a deer standing in between the poles of one of the teepee left in commemoration of those who died there.
The 2nd time I went, the clouds were very dark and seemed angry at what had transpired there.
I believe our feelings that are evoked by any scene are valid and the photos we take when we are feeling a certain way are just as valid. When I especially look at the photos taken the 2nd time it makes me feel the same way as when I was there taking it.
I think whatever the scene is and how it makes us feel is relevant to us, and sometimes regrettably to noone else. The scene "puts " the feeling on us, not the other way around from my perspective.
Yes I think it is possible to over imagine a feeling, but I will guess it wasn't the first one you had! The first impression is key!
Thank you very much for your comments Sheryl. Your trip to Big Hole Montana sounds amazing and it is interesting to hear the emotions that you tapped into when you were there making images.
It was good to read your thoughts, they have given me lots to think about. 🙂
There's something about being out in the stormy weather isn't there. I'm with you on coming back and feeling alive.
This project sounds really interesting. With regards to depicting emotions, the idea of feeling fearful may not come from being in the place itself, but from the idea of say the shifting land or the degradation through climate of the specific place. This could be as simple as written statement alongside the image where we are answering questions such as "what do I fear here?" or "what brings joy at this moment in time?".
I like the idea of stretching your creativity and look forward to seeing where this takes you, and how the project evolves.
Thank you very much Daniel, that really helps. I think I have a tendency to make things too literal so it was interesting to ready your ideas. It's definitely good to stretch our creativity. I think if we stay inside our comfort zone all the time we never grow as photographers.
Beautifully written and beautiful images Gill. I love and get really excited by stormy weather especially as I live right down on the south west tip of Cornwall. Big waves and a bit of sunshine to light them up is a perfect day for me but I do ending pressing the shutter button too often. You always believe the next wave will be more spectacular.
Ha, so true!
Thank you very much Peter. I agree, you can't beat a stormy day on the coast and Cornwall is lovely so I can understand why you always take too many photos! 🙂
Beautifully written Gill. I love a storm as well, partly because of the interesting images that can be made but also because it is so exhilarating.
Love that list of emotions - I am really looking forward to seeing how your project progresses. Can I suggest that you are not trying to impose an emotion on the landscape. You are trying (using whatever tricks you have up your sleeve) to create an emotion in the viewer. Is that any better ethically? I'm not sure but that's why it's art ("It's the viewer that makes the work." Marcel Duchamp)
Thank you so much for your comments James and I am glad you enjoyed the post.
Your points are really helpful and I hadn't thought about it in the same way, but you are absolutely right. I also hadn't heard that quote before but it is so true. Thank you for sharing.
You pose an interesting question re imposing an emotion on a landscape Gill. To me there is no emotion in a landscape. We impose our emotions onto a scene, and that becomes our emotional connection to it. The landscape is just that, a landscape, manipulated by human intervention perhaps, or (something I have never seen) pristine and influenced only by nature. They don’t to me have an emotion, they are just what they are. However, there is emotion present in the act of taking that photograph, our own emotional connection, and that seeps through into the image or the story of the image. I look at photographs that I have taken, and know where I was, how I felt, and the memory will remain until I lose my grip on reality. But it’s mine, not the landscapes, the landscape inspires me, fascinates me, but it’s my human interpretation / experience that I feel. Which is good, and perfectly valid! I ask myself, what would an otter see, or a badger in this landscape, opportunity, food, shelter, not emotion though I think. Great question, oh so many late nights could be spent debating this one:) Wonderful essay, and photographs, just inspiring, thank you:)
Thank you so much for this Sarah, that has really helped clarify things in my mind. You are absolutely right but I had never really thought about it in this way. It is our response to the landscape that gives it its emotion - whatever that may be at the time.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and I am glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
I think it's more a case of the landscape evoking an emotion within you rather than you imposing an emotion on it - you're responding to how the landscape, and what you are seeing, makes you feel.
Thank you very much for your comments Lynn. Yes it does, but I suppose I was questioning whether it is ok to alter those emotions and portray the place in a different way to the emotion felt at the time. For example a wood could feel frightening because it is dark and foggy but my emotion at the time may not have been fear.
Ah, I see. I personally wouldn't have a problem with that because we can interpret things differently depending on our mood, whether that is when taking the image or later when processing. And the viewer doesn't know what mood was evoked in you when taking the image, they only see what is before them, not necessarily interpreting it in the way that you intended. The phrase 'artistic licence' can come in handy 🙂
Thank you Lynn, that's really helpful 🙂
I’m always reminded when out taking shots with the word that I always take with me. Belonging, it’s really made up of two words Belong and Longing and I feel wrapped up in these one/two words are our emotions. To belong is to find that place or location that brings something that touches or reminds us of someone or an experience and the longing is what are we trying to feel that ultimately tells a story and allows the viewer to get in touch with their own emotions. I’m afraid for me it’s work in progress and I’m always too quick and need to standstill and let the moment touch me first. Thank you for highlighting this fascinating topic.
I love this Gary, thank you for sharing. It is such a great way to think about connection with place and tuning into the emotions we experience.
Love the sound of sea on shingle. Always love places like Weybourne and Salthouse/Cley on a stormy day. Gorgeous images as always Gill. I particularly like the first longer exposure sea image.
Thank you very much Jon, I am glad you enjoyed the images.
I completely agree, there is nothing like a beach on a stormy day and you have some lovely ones on the Norfolk coast. I must get up there a bit more often! 🙂
I love the imagery. Full of evoked warm feelings for me
Thank you very much Martyn, I am glad you enjoyed it.
Lovely images Gill. I particularly like the slower shutter speed shots of the waves, as they really give a feeling of movement and a stormy sea. A project is a great idea and something that I’ve thought about doing but have never got around to it, yet. I need to get my thinking cap on and decide on a subject.
Thank you very much for your comments David, I am glad you enjoyed the images. I particularly liked the slow shutter speeds. I worked at about 1/20 second and really enjoyed how much texture this gave the waves.
You should definitely have a go at a project, it really focuses your image making.
Beautiful birds & beaches & treasures. I love that a group of cormorants can be a gulp!
Thank you very much Victoria, I am glad you enjoyed the images. And I agree - a gulp of cormorants is brilliant! 🙂
Gorgeous photography I love the feel of the 1/20 😀💛
Thank you very much Rachel, I am glad you enjoyed the images. 🙂
Beautiful images. I like to think less about us humans imposing our emotions on the landscape, and more about being receptive to the unique and innate intelligence the landscape has, and what that may convey onto us. It should be a reciprocal interaction.
Thank you very much for your comments Jenna and I completely agree. I wouldn't want to impose my emotions onto a landscape, my photography is very much about tapping into the emotions that the landscape offers me. 🙂
That’s an interesting challenge to give yourself.
In the first part of your text you note returning home “feeling windswept, cold, but so alive”… I can relate, as photo excursions often leave me with an ineffable sense of aliveness (though sometimes in a more quiet, “awareness” kind of way). Maybe the practice of relating to a place through photography makes one aware of the emotions that get stirred.
I think that’s also why people buy photos - because the images stir their emotions in some way. But not necessarily in the way that it does for the photographer, perhaps. I’m interested to know what you discover in the process.
Thank you very much for your comments Mike. I think you are right, when we make images in the landscape we are more in tune with our emotions and we pay attention to what we are feeling. Emotion is also very much the reason why people buy images.
Another beautiful set of images Gill. Re your connection project and 'imposing' emotions on the landscape...my view is that landscapes evoke many emotions positive and negative so a book would have to show both sides in order to show the reality of the landscape. For me I would just say be true to yourself and produce images that evoke the rawness of each emotion, if that makes sense. Photographers that produce this sort of work, rather than just the images made through 'rose tinted ' glasses, would probably feel more satisfied knowing they had been true to their feelings rather than producing work that the masses want to see. Its certainly a tough dilemma to keep everyone happy, but ultimately its the photographer/artist/writer/creative who needs to be happy first and foremost. Looking forward to seeing the results of this project.
Thank you so much for your comments Lin. They make a huge amount of sense and have given me lots to think about.
Good to know Gill...as an aside, after being a reader for a year, I've just started my own photography publication, Spirit of Place, and put up my first introductory post. It's a huge learning curve but I'm looking forward to the journey!
I think that you cannot extract yourself from the photo, therefore, you will likely influence it. These are beautiful. I find them very calming.
Thank you very much Davor, I am glad you enjoyed them.
My pleasure, Gill.
I went to Big Hole Montana two times. This is where a battle took place between the US army and the Nez Perce who up to this point had successfully eluded them.
Both times I was there all alone, which allowed me to completely experience the feelings evoked by the scene before me.
The first time was overwhelming grief then connection as I viewed and photographed a deer standing in between the poles of one of the teepee left in commemoration of those who died there.
The 2nd time I went, the clouds were very dark and seemed angry at what had transpired there.
I believe our feelings that are evoked by any scene are valid and the photos we take when we are feeling a certain way are just as valid. When I especially look at the photos taken the 2nd time it makes me feel the same way as when I was there taking it.
I think whatever the scene is and how it makes us feel is relevant to us, and sometimes regrettably to noone else. The scene "puts " the feeling on us, not the other way around from my perspective.
Yes I think it is possible to over imagine a feeling, but I will guess it wasn't the first one you had! The first impression is key!
Thank you very much for your comments Sheryl. Your trip to Big Hole Montana sounds amazing and it is interesting to hear the emotions that you tapped into when you were there making images.
It was good to read your thoughts, they have given me lots to think about. 🙂