Large Format Landscapes

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Originally Posted by Frank Petronio

I like pictures that challenge me and make me uncomfortable.

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Pornography?

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Originally Posted by Vaughn

When people "complain" about pictures of "rocks and trees", I can not help but think of the millions of images of people -- what an over-done subject!!! Gawd! Not another photo of a person! I see people every day. There's billions of them mucky things up! When is someone going to do a portrait in a new way, a way we haven't seen many many times before?! :D ;) :D (this is my sarcasm symbol, BTW)

Vaughn

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I agree with Vaughn, with or without the sarcasm symbol. Frankly when I go out to shoot landscapes the last thing in the world I want to see is a person. Part of the joy of this type of photography is that one often does not have to deal with people, other than those who might have accompanied us with the same intention.

On the other hand, next time I go out to do landscape work maybe I will pick up a nude mannequin to place at a strategic point in the composition to make my work more meaningful to folks like Frank, to combine cliches so to speak.

Sandy

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Originally Posted by Pipit

All - thanks for a very nice welcome for my first pic. Here is another one on the same locaion (Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand) with 90mm Sinaron. Shot on Shanghai Film. The sky has cropped.

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So beautiful!
Thanks for sharing!

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Originally Posted by Sascha Welter

I wouldn't consider Frank's post to be trolling, also since from other posts of his I perceive it to be "in character" :-) Instead I think it's a valid point of discussion.

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My suggestion Frank was a troll was meant in jest - hence the "emoticon" thingy. I wasn't serious - just picking up on the mildly provocative tenor of some of his posts (both visual and literary). I appreciate Frank's contribution to the forum and apologise unreservedly to Frank if my comment caused him any offence.

I also agree with Sascha that Frank poses a valid question. But I wonder whether a thread intended for image sharing is the appropriate place to pose it. Frank's question is probably important enough to merit its own thread.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by sanking

...On the other hand, next time I go out to do landscape work maybe I will pick up a nude mannequin to place at a strategic point in the composition to make my work more meaningful to folks like Frank, to combine cliches so to speak. Sandy

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But make sure to take some of those rub-on tattoos with you! And some small rings to glue on various body parts! ;)

But yes, Carey, back to more photos!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Joe Forks

Charlie that is awesome!

Frank that might be a good project - find a pristine landscape and add a McDonalds cup or maybe a plastic water bottle and place it prominently in the scene. That's art! hahaha

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Well you make a joke, but it COULD be quite artistic. Art doesn't have to be pretty. It can be ugly and discomfort producing, particularly if it makes a point. I think something like this could make a good point about man and our interaction with nature and need for care.

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Originally Posted by Frank Petronio

Peter has a nice picture with a dog in the foreground, that's about 30 pix back that I had to go to find a sign of life. Heck there's hardly any vegetation in the preceding shots.

I don't know why Ken had to edit that? And I don't think it's trolling or picking on anyone... just making an observation as to the sterility of most of these pictures making me a wee bit uncomfortable.

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First reaction - "good." ;)

Next thought is about how different things make different people uncomfortable. My girlfriend has lived in NYC and Philadelphia and is quite comfortable in very urban surroundings. I am not. Any time we go to downtown Atlanta, she drives. She doesn't mind it, and it freaks me the #$%^ out trying to drive down there, never mind park. I like a lot of the activities in such places, but the sheer density of people makes me more than a little uncomfortable. Oddly enough (to me) she's a bit uncomfortable in wide open places, at least if she's alone.

Bluntly, I'm not that much of a people person. I'm naturally drawn to landscapes and particularly rather desolate ones, in which I find beauty. But this is one of the very reasons I'm getting interested in doing portraiture. We don't grow much as artists or people if we only do what we're comfortable with.

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Originally Posted by rdenney

Perhaps the solitude is the point, and the sterility is supposed to make you feel uncomfortable. Many times, the point of a stark landscape is to make us realize it may not be our home in which we are free to feel comfortable.

Rick "who has felt uncomfortable and sometimes even creepy looking as some of your unclothed models" Denney

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Well said Rick.

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Originally Posted by Frank Petronio

I like pictures that challenge me and make me uncomfortable. But I suspect that many "landscapists" are unaware that their coldly perfect pictures have that effect. It's kind of a Pagan thing to worship the dirt quite so reverently....

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Er, smile when you say that. After all, it's quite a compliment. :D

So here's one of mine with some people in it. They're not prominent, but are clearly pretty comfortable in their (rather manicured - this is at the VA hospital grounds in Johnson City, TN) environment.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/...9c01c7ea_b.jpg

4x5 Agfacolor 100 (RIP.), Linhof Technika III, 90mm Angulon. Exposure only recorded in a field notebook at the time and long since lost and forgotten.

Roger, just a little tongue in cheek, and I agree with what you are saying.

Seabird, I agree, new thread and I'd be happy to participate, but I'd pose more questions than answers :)

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Originally Posted by Vaughn

While in the desert I re-read Narcissus and Goldmund by Hesse (for the nth time)

Vaughn

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Great book Vughn. The description and the story is beautiful. Is a book full of described photographies.. As "Little Prince" I could turn read it and discover new thinks each time..

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Originally Posted by Joe Forks

Roger, just a little tongue in cheek, and I agree with what you are saying.

Seabird, I agree, new thread and I'd be happy to participate, but I'd pose more questions than answers :)

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Oh I know. I'm not bothered by any of this. Just talking about it - and agree it might be best in a separate thread. :)

People in the landscape.

My three boys with the Three Brothers (Yosemite Valley) in the background. 8x10 neg scan -- will be a pt/pd print one of these days.

And added another -- my three boys in Fern Canyon -- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, CA. Scanned Pt/pd print. 8x10 neg