Random photo notes, Vol. 1
These are a few notes I have written about some of my favorite photos. They can range from social media posts to descriptions on my homepage, even handwritten notes made in the field. They are not in chronological order.
I’ve always found it helpful to put words to my images, whether in the form of scribbling exposure settings in a notebook or writing essays on the nuances of a composition.
If photography can be partly considered the organization of the visible chaos that surrounds us, then I believe writing can be somewhat about taming the invisible and internal.
Looking back on my notes has always helped me to reflect on my technical and creative progress, as well as on my journey through life.
Fluvial Stoics, 5/21/22
Creek days are always fun but they can be physically exhausting! All the careful rock hopping and slow wading, searching for new spots upstream, takes a toll. Especially with a camera backpack to constantly worry about keeping dry. This day was especially tricky, logistically-speaking, but I came away with this image that I’m happy with. I really liked the ghost-like reflections of the cool-toned boulders sitting in a calm corner of the creek. Their curves reminded me of ancient bronze sculptures. I found their graceful handling of harsh sunlight worth examining for several peaceful minutes.
Last Stand, 4/14/22
Inspired by the beautiful and poignant work of Sebastião Salgado, I processed this image in stark black and white to emphasize the drama of passing storm clouds. I particularly liked the leafless trees in the foreground in contrast with the lush Spring foliage emerging on the mountain. This is a tough spot to access and it took a few hikes before I found this vantage point that I liked the most.
Underglow, 11/20/21
A new edit of an older photo I made, and initially dismissed, back in Winter 2021, this image has become a favorite of mine. At first I found the photo too messy and confusing, but I decided to pull it from the archive and see if I could “save” it. Sunlight was hitting these trees subtly, so I dodged and burned, and applied more saturation than usual, to make certain aspects pop. I also flipped it upside down and cropped to make the scene fairly ambiguous. Now, I truly love this photo and how I managed to bring it back from the dead. Perhaps there’s a lesson there.
