Featured Photographer

Government House - Rhododendron/Azalea

Bob St.Cyr (PhotoBob) 

Government House - Rhododendron/Azalea is ablaze with color in this photograph. Taken with a very simple Zero Image 2000, brings us back to how photographs were created in the early days of photography, although with a very modern touch. The Photographs viewpoint, coupled with the small aperature of the camera and brilliant color, somehow makes the image seem more alive, yet more raw at the same time.

Camera: Zero Image 4x5 25mm f/216 Film: Velvia 100

Welcome to Traditional Photographer.NET

Thinking Creatively, Thinking Photographically

American landscape photographer Ansel Adams once wrote “Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer - and often the supreme disappointment”. Many photographers express surprise when learning that even master photographers, like Ansel Adams, experienced periods of disappointment and frustration with the quality and pace of their work. This idea seems to spring from the belief that somehow they were immune from periods when creative thinking does not come as second nature.

Like the masters, we all go through similar periods where creative thinking is a struggle. With some forethought, however, there are ways that we can prepare ourselves in advance, for when those periods do come. First, we need to recognize that the lack of creative thinking often come from the burdens of everyday life. Secondly, we need to develop a way of life that encourages creative thinking. So, how do we go about thinking creatively, and by extension, applying it photographically?

The Source of a Lack of Creativity

We live in a hectic world that focuses constantly on activities, running from one to the next, encouraging us to achieve the unachievable. This lifestyle floods our thoughts, zaps our energy, all the while encouraging passivity, in mindless, often destructive forms of entertainment.

Recognizing life’s impact upon our creativity, photographer Minor White wrote, “If you could stop the shouting of your own thoughts in your ears, you might be able to hear the small voice of a … pine cone in the sun.” The question then is “How do we stop the shouting?”

Creativity requires an active involvement with the object of our passion. You cannot turn creativity on like a light switch, nor does it work on the clock. For photographers, creativity manifests itself in subject choices and in photographic composition.

Where to Go From Here

In the past few months we have focused on a number of different photographic techniques that illustrate that sometimes creativity simply means to step outside "the box" and try something different. Our member, Bob St.Cyr (PhotoBob), has shown us the way in the accompanying photograph. He didn't use expensive, high end photographic equipment, he used the most powerful tool available to us - the power of human creativity. His photograph, simple, yet powerful, is testament to the power of creativity.

This month, let's resolve to try something different, let's Think Creatively, Think Photographically.

Featured Article

Landscape Beyond - A Journey Into Photography

by Robert M. Teague

Occasionally, a photography book comes along that makes you think about the photographic process from a more than a simple "rule of thirds" perspective. Landscape Beyond - A Journey Into Photography by David Ward "Landscape Beyond - A Journey into Photograph" by David Ward is such a book. This book challenges our viewpoints and our thought processes about landscape photography, while guiding us towards becoming better photographers. Those who consider color landscape photography to be simply "colorful calendar art" would be well advised not to read this book, as it may challenge their core beliefs behind this view. This is not to say that this book does not contain some outstanding examples of color landscape photography; it does. But, it does so, in the context of three essays, which are written in such a way as to give the reader pause to think about their craft. Let's delve into this book a little deeper and see why I feel it holds so much importance for those who love color landscape photography.

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