|
Art or Reality
There is an expectation of truth in landscape photography based upon the depiction of real landscapes using natural light as witnessed through the eyes and camera of the photographer. However, the camera and the eye see very differently and this results in some degree of variation when comparing a photograph to what was actually witnessed. It is not my intention as a fine art landscape photographer to mimic human vision with absolute accuracy. This is near impossible for a multitude of reasons. Through a camera lens we compose a rectangular field of view which differs in shape and coverage to our visual field. Lenses can impart spatial distortion and light variation across an image, causing elements to appear slightly different in shape, colour and brightness. Photographic films come in many varieties, each of which registers light uniquely. Photographic film has a much narrower contrast range than human vision resulting in variations in colour, brightness and visible detail, based upon exposure settings. Long exposures can result in surreal effects on film from moving elements such as clouds, water and vegetation. The digital process of producing photographs affects colour and contrast characteristics based upon the configuration of software and hardware used. The characterisitics of paper, framing and lighting used for display greatly contribute to how a photograph appears to the viewer. As a fine art landscape photographer, I am not merely attempting to record plain and accurate renditions of the landscape. I selectively use rich, contrasty films and papers, and unique visual effects from lenses, exposure settings, polarising filters, temperature and contrast balancing filters, in order to produce striking landscape photographs - works of reality-based art, which convey the visual drama of a landscape as I've experienced. |