Its either the romantic or Zen Buddhist in me, but I feel like we have a lot to learn from clouds. A dramatic sunset can connect two lovers, just as it teaches us a valuable lesson on impermanence. In thinking about our motivations, inspiration, and voice these analogies can make a lot of sense to an artist. To understand my photographic ‘voice’ a little better, I turned to another type of cloud.
I recently generated a word cloud based on what I think are a few of my representative blog posts in order to gain a better understanding of my own writing and photography. Click the cloud to see it larger.
Some words immediately jump out at me and catch my eye. Canyon. Light. Hope. Utah. Shapes. Life. Believe. Sandstone. Bryce. National. Park.
Why these words? The cliffs and canyons of the Colorado Plateau are a constant source of inspiration and creativity for me. Perhaps its all the hours I spent there early in my life, but now when I need to mourn or celebrate, feel the need for safety and security, am lacking humility, or simply need to escape, I find solace in the red rock wilderness I have come to know so well.
Places like the Kaiparowits Plateau or the Vermillion Cliffs are still wild, largely undiscovered. Sometimes, when I look at them in the distance, I wonder whether humans have ever seen all the features there are to be discovered here. I continue to entertain what may be a naïve hope by believing these landscapes will continue to be protected and loved as they are now, that they will remain unchanged, and give my children and grandchildren a place to visit, possibly even to bring their children someday.
In order to photograph a landscape and capture more than just its superficial beauty, it is my belief that you must first know it, study it, learn about its intricacies and nuances. In my own development, I learned by studying the locations others had visited–by doing homework from a desk chair. But as I slowly grew to learn the places that I call home, my voice started to be heard through my images. To an extent, gear matters, but taking off your gear goggles and focusing energy on introspection and self-evaluation is a start down the road of making truly personal images.
By looking at my cloud, perhaps I didn’t learn anything about myself I don’t already know. However, by studying the words I use over and over again, perhaps, I can learn a little more about my voice, and most importantly what I want my photography to say to the world.
What does your cloud say about you? About your photography?
Layers of Sandstone, January 2012
An interesting experiment, Greg. What I found most intriguing was a self-awareness that sometimes humility is lacking. Few people have the insight to recognize this although I have no doubt too many of us are guilty of it. I know a number of people (Buddhists) who go on an annual retreat to Nepal. I think the period of reflection and introspection is highly therapeutic and cathartic. Maybe as photographers we find a simpler version of the retreat in the great outdoors without traveling too far. It can only do us good.
Andrew, thanks for making this really thoughtful comment. I agree that it is highly therapeutic to take moments for ourselves and do some introspection. Sadly, it is incredibly difficult sometimes for even a mindful person to do this in our society, with all the hustling we do in day-to-day life. But, I agree that it can only do us good…here’s to taking more time for that in 2012…
Thanks again for this…you’ve really got me thinking.
Really well thought out post Greg. I agree with you 100% that getting to know the landscape you are photographing plays a big role in the choices you make while crafting the image. Over the years as I’ve progressed as a photographer I have found myself studying scenes a lot closer and in the end creating images that posses a lot stronger values and meaning. Instead of visiting an area and instantly pulling out my camera I now take the time to explore and really think about what aspects are most important and how I can transfer the feelings that I experienced while in these beautiful areas to my audience.
Thanks for the comment, Kyle. I couldn’t agree with your assessment more, about the progression we make as photographers. Its happening more and more that I won’t take out my camera on outings, and I think this arises from 2 places: first, I’m becoming more selective in the images I make, and I’m finding increased value in the experience rather than “getting the shot.”
The more I travel down this road, the more valuable I find it to be…
I’ve been thinking the same kinds of thoughts lately. I suppose it’s all part of getting beyond surface appearances, of digging down into the heart of things,of evolving as an artist.
Great post… and mighty fine photo.
Thanks, PJ, for the comment, and for the compliment. I appreciate it.
You’re completely right: its all about getting down to the heart of things. The more I get into this photography career, the more I realize that its about so much more than the camera. Besides, the creative process is way more interesting than the technical gear-geek stuff anyway. 🙂
Greg, this is an enjoyable thought-provoking post and the comments are excellent too. You are developing a very high quality experience here at Alpenglow. Now for the sake of humility I’m going to break it all up with some of my rotten humor. I have been looking for my cloud, but find that it is too cloudy to find it. Huh, huh. See how bad it gets? Anyway, I’ll do better next time. In the meantime, keep up the good work. Nice image too.
Da-da ching!! Yeah, that was pretty bad, Eeyore, er…I mean David. 🙂
Thanks for the comment–I agree with you regarding the quality of the comments–I’m grateful for the further thought-provoking conversation that arises from posts like this…