6x6 Landscapes - Inspiration?

[Michael Dahlkvist]

Hi,

I live in Sweden and there is something about the spring time that always gets me out in nature wanting to explore Landscape photography. I want to shoot with my Hasselblad and 6x6 but normally when you think of landscapes you think wide angles and i want to push myself.

Do any of you shoot 6x6 and what are some of you´re favorite compositions? Any great photographers i should keep in mind when it comes to those types of landscapes? both B&W and color.

New to the forums hoping to be a part of the conversation
Best,
Michael

 

[ic-racer]

Of course there is the classic list of 6x6cm photographers, but for inspiration 'out side of the box' (excuse the poor pun) there are some painters that used square format (or nearly square). J. M. W. Turner and Claude Monet comes to mind.

 

[David Allen]

I would suggest that you look at the landscape work of:
Bill Brandt
Michael Kenna
Charlie Waite
Wim van Velzen
Jeff Grant

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I'd like to also recommend looking at some of the work of Bill Schwab and David Eisenlord.

Both square format shooters, active in landscape photography (some of it urban landscape).

 

[JPJackson]

Faye Godwin's work is worth a look.

Best,
J

 

[Michael Dahlkvist]

Iam stunned by the responses, so many great artists. Iam also happy to find a few names ive never heard of. My personal favorite has always been Michael Kenna. But there are sadly so many wonderful artists out there and so little time.

6x6 for me in terms of landscapes has as much to do with whats in the frame and what is NOT in the frame. Limiting the view can be very interesting and gets my brain working.

 

[klownshed]

+1 for Michael Kenna and Bill Brandt.

I'd add Rolfe Horne too.

I enjoy 6x6 and also like the constraints of the frame. It gives a landscape space vertically that makes an image feel different to a wider format. And I like being able to put the horizon in the centre and ignore all the other 'rules' of composition.

I find I don't get to use my Bronica as much as I'd like, but walking around with a Holga is good practice for composing in a square. I did a 366 project last year and many of my favourite photos were taken with the Holga.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I call the 6x6 format "alphabet soup" because nearly all photographs taken with it look like a letter from the alphabet! Not really, but think about it.

I wish I lived in Sweden. Lucky man you.

 

[TimVermont]

Helfried & Renata Weyer for color landscapes, and oddly enough Arnold Odermatt, expecially the series "Im Dienst" - beautifully composed landscapes, just with cops!

 

[Vaughn]

I learn to photograph with a Rolleiflex. I learned to see with the square and I quite love it. Very stable, calming compositions can be made with the square that yet have a circular movement to them. What happens in the corners seem to have a greater effect on the center than with rectangular formats, all things else being equal, which they never are.

 

[SJRichardson]

Love your photos!

 

[removed account4]

hi michael

check out http://gavinsmith.portfoliobox.me
worth the trip... ( and he's a fellow appugger )

 

[mooseontheloose]

I'm not really a landscape shooter, although I'm a fan of many of the photographers already listed (especially Kenna). The "grand landscape" shot is not something that interests me most of the time. I've been shooting square for over 12 years now, and I find that when I do shoot landscapes, I focus on the small, the immediate, patterns, and what I like to call 'the hand of man', like paths and fence posts. Over the years I've also tried to be more minimalist in my compositions, similar to (but not exactly like) Kenna. I'm sure Sweden has plenty of inspiring places to shoot (I was there briefly last year and would love to go back for a landscape photo trip!).

 

[Arklatexian]

Faye Godwin's work is worth a look.

Best,
J

Thanks for reminding me to dig out my Faye Godwin book. She is one of my all time favorites....Regards!