Photograph near your home - Clyde Butcher

adelorenzo · Apr 16, 2015

I thought this recent post by Clyde Butcher was very inspiring. I've been plugging away making pictures around my part of the world and this really helped me think about what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. Via his Facebook page:

Inspiration Point - Yosemite

I woke to snow on the ground outside my hotel room, so I drove up to Inspiration Point with the hope of capturing it on the cliffs before it melted. However, most of the snow had melted by the time I, and a multitude of other photographers, had arrived. Niki captured this image of a gaggle of photographers, tripods overlapping, at Inspiration Point.

Many photographers have tried to capture Yosemite in the same way as Ansel Adams. None have succeeded. He lived there and was able to catch the light at the right time. It wasn't luck (which the rest of us hope for), it was skill and knowing intimately his subject matter. I do think it is a lesson to be learned... photograph near your home. It is a place that you know intimately and can be there when the light is right. The success rate will be much better and you can use the images to save those special place near you.

However, when we landscape photographers come across beauty like Yosemite, we can't help ourselves! We have to capture it on film just as our heart was captured by it.

Even for those without Facebook you should be able to click through and see the behind the scenes shot and also the final B&W image.

Mainecoonmaniac · Apr 16, 2015

You need not do anything. Remain sitting at your table and listen.
You need not even listen, just wait.
You need not even wait, just learn to be quiet, still and solitary.
And the world will freely offer itself to you unmasked.
It has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.

FRANZ KAFKA

MrBrowning · Apr 16, 2015

Mainecoonmaniac said:
You need not do anything. Remain sitting at your table and listen.
You need not even listen, just wait.
You need not even wait, just learn to be quiet, still and solitary.
And the world will freely offer itself to you unmasked.
It has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.

FRANZ KAFKA

+1

Great author.

fretlessdavis · Apr 16, 2015

I definitely agree with this. Some of my best images have come from places most photographers would overlook, but are places I know like the back of my hand, and know how exactly the light will interact with everything. For me, to make good landscape photography, you really have to know and love the land you're shooting.

I was lucky, and did live in Yosemite this past summer. It's so much easier to make great images when you live the landscape and the light. Watching the sunset across Half Dome almost every evening, and driving past Tunnel View twice a day at varying times gave me a great understanding of how to make nice images there.

Although, during those rare spectacular times, it was almost more fun to watch EVERYONE jockeying for tripod positions and shoving ahead all trying to get the same shot.

pentaxpete · Jun 5, 2017

OK -- on my Walks I visit the land at the back of the British Telecom Building in Brentwood -- it changes all the time as the Seasons change.
Konica Auto-Reflex TC + Hexanon AR 28mm f3.5 + RED filter

Brentwood 03 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
as above

Brentwood 02 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
as above

Brentwood 01 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Yellow Filter used here -- FILM was 10/2004 Ilford Delta 100 in home-made Microphen 1+1 9 mins @ 20oC

Brentwood 06 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr

jeffreyg · Jun 5, 2017

I live in the same city as Clyde Butcher and when the light is right I am fortunate enough to just go out the door into my back yard. (really)

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

removed account4 · Jun 5, 2017

if someone can't "see" around them where they live how can they see anywhere else ?

michaelorr · Jun 5, 2017

jnanian said:
if someone can't "see" around them where they live how can they see anywhere else ?

That is a very good point, John! Put like that makes me want to do more around home, and not pine so much for the exotic places that i can never get to, let alone time just right the light...

I had to make a visit to Yosemite when i was close enough to make it work - all because of the photo books by AA in the oversized shelves of the library when i was a kid. It truly was awe inspiring walking around the valley, along the Merced River, and hiking up a few of the trails to Vernal Falls, Taft Point, and elsewhere. But, it has been done over and over by people who know it like the back of their hand. And those who walked in AA's footsteps and under his tutelage have become masters in the world they found, not AA's world.

Many thanks to @adelorenzo for putting up this learning point - it is no doubt as much prophetic as it is philosophical.

LAG · Jun 6, 2017

jnanian said:
if someone can't "see" around them where they live how can they see anywhere else ?

Nicely stated!

removedacct1 · Jul 14, 2017

While it may not be right in my back yard, Smith Rock State Park in Terrebonne, OR is within a couple hours drive of home.
Smith Rock State Park, Terrabonne, Oregon
Photographed on Ilford HP5+ 8X10 film, with the Deardorff/Symmar-S 240mm lens, plus #25 red filter. Film processed in Rodinal 1:100 with minimal agitation, for 60 minutes.

LAG · Jul 14, 2017

paulbarden said:
While it may not be right in my back yard, Smith Rock State Park in Terrebonne, OR is within a couple hours drive of home.
Smith Rock State Park, Terrabonne, Oregon
Photographed on Ilford HP5+ 8X10 film, with the Deardorff/Symmar-S 240mm lens, plus #25 red filter. Film processed in Rodinal 1:100 with minimal agitation, for 60 minutes.

Lucky you are!
Well done, I love it!

Arklatexian · Jul 14, 2017

michaelorr said:
That is a very good point, John! Put like that makes me want to do more around home, and not pine so much for the exotic places that i can never get to, let alone time just right the light...

I had to make a visit to Yosemite when i was close enough to make it work - all because of the photo books by AA in the oversized shelves of the library when i was a kid. It truly was awe inspiring walking around the valley, along the Merced River, and hiking up a few of the trails to Vernal Falls, Taft Point, and elsewhere. But, it has been done over and over by people who know it like the back of their hand. And those who walked in AA's footsteps and under his tutelage have become masters in the world they found, not AA's world.

Many thanks to @adelorenzo for putting up this learning point - it is no doubt as much prophetic as it is philosophical.

For too long, I yearned to go to Colorado every year. They have mountains, and with New Mexico have narrow-guage steam trains. Then there came a time when running a small family business kept me from taking off more than one week a year, so I started traveling in Louisiana and you know what? My home state is "beautiful". That has been years ago and I still haven't seen it all. Moss covered oaks and cypresses, shrimp and oyster boats plus I'll put Fall color in the northern part of the state in November up against fall color in far flung regions. Of course Aspens in SW Colorado in late September and early October are mighty pretty, but so far away........Regards!

michaelorr · Jul 14, 2017

I didn't notice your location until just now. I lived for a couple years in Shreveport when i was about 7-8 years old. Dad was in SAC stationed at Barksdale. that was mid-sixties. I drove 6 1/2 hours up to White Mountains to make a hike, and took my 8x10 along for the opportunity i might have - and took it. Same for the Falling Waters trail on which the Stairs fall is along. I made the trip to tick off a couple more over 4000 footers of the 48 classified in the whites. This trip, i aimed to finish the last three peaks, but got flooded out with thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flash floods. But came back with 4 photographs of 3 falls. So it was a success in any event.

At home, i make every opportunity. For me, home is two places, where i live, and where i work, which are 148 miles apart. I try to get out and photograph both every chance i can. I love discovery, and i also love adventure and new places and opportunities. But staying close to home reveals so much that so often becomes so familiar as to be dismissed.

RalphLambrecht · Jul 15, 2017

adelorenzo said:
I thought this recent post by Clyde Butcher was very inspiring. I've been plugging away making pictures around my part of the world and this really helped me think about what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. Via his Facebook page:

Inspiration Point - Yosemite

I woke to snow on the ground outside my hotel room, so I drove up to Inspiration Point with the hope of capturing it on the cliffs before it melted. However, most of the snow had melted by the time I, and a multitude of other photographers, had arrived. Niki captured this image of a gaggle of photographers, tripods overlapping, at Inspiration Point.

Many photographers have tried to capture Yosemite in the same way as Ansel Adams. None have succeeded. He lived there and was able to catch the light at the right time. It wasn't luck (which the rest of us hope for), it was skill and knowing intimately his subject matter. I do think it is a lesson to be learned... photograph near your home. It is a place that you know intimately and can be there when the light is right. The success rate will be much better and you can use the images to save those special place near you.

However, when we landscape photographers come across beauty like Yosemite, we can't help ourselves! We have to capture it on film just as our heart was captured by it.

Even for those without Facebook you should be able to click through and see the behind the scenes shot and also the final B&W image.

Ansel Adams photographed near his home too. must be nice to be able to live in Yosemite.

Bob Carnie · Jul 15, 2017

I wish I had Jeffrey's back yard but I imagine there are a lot of snakes which would be a non starter for my wife letting us live there.

jeffreyg · Jul 15, 2017

Bob,

No venomous snakes only an occasional small harmless shy snake, opossum, racoon, squirrels and a family of foxes. Non of the wildlife is of any bother and we are actually close in just minutes from anything we might need.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

Theo Sulphate · Jul 15, 2017

pentaxpete said:
OK -- on my Walks I visit the land at the back of the British Telecom Building in Brentwood -- it changes all the time as the Seasons change.
...

I always enjoy your photos, Pete. Thank you.

jeffreyg said:
I live in the same city as Clyde Butcher and when the light is right I am fortunate enough to just go out the door into my back yard. (really)
...

paulbarden said:
While it may not be right in my back yard, Smith Rock State Park in Terrebonne, OR is within a couple hours drive of home.
...

Extremely nice photos, guys. I'm impressed.

michaelorr said:
... For me, home is two places, where i live, and where i work, which are 148 miles apart. ...

That's a hell of a commute...

I've always been too aware, and perhaps too upset, to see places change - which always seems to be for the worst. So, I've tried to preserve in photos the places I've lived and worked. Time has proven this has been a worthy thing to do.

michaelorr · Jul 15, 2017

I wish i had done that in Asbury Park when i first got to NJ. It was well on in its decline, but Tillie the Clown was still up, even decrepit would have made a fantastic photograph on chrome. My mind wasn't on those things back then...

No commute for me. I tried it - really bad up and down I95 through NJ and Delaware during those hours. Then it was hotel for a couple years, then i looked for apartment. So, only one round trip per week not so bad.
Been trying to make the most of what is down there since i have to suffer there anyway.

pdeeh · Jul 15, 2017

jnanian said:
if someone can't "see" around them where they live how can they see anywhere else ?

It's a good question.
Yet I've seen more than once the suggestion that to photograph the familiar is to be without creativity.

Old-N-Feeble · Jul 15, 2017

Mainecoonmaniac said:
You need not do anything. Remain sitting at your table and listen.
You need not even listen, just wait.
You need not even wait, just learn to be quiet, still and solitary.
And the world will freely offer itself to you unmasked.
It has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.

FRANZ KAFKA

Like a lazy cat, begging (demanding) to be fed.

Damn cat... won't stop bothering me!!

Arklatexian · Jul 15, 2017

michaelorr said:
I didn't notice your location until just now. I lived for a couple years in Shreveport when i was about 7-8 years old. Dad was in SAC stationed at Barksdale. that was mid-sixties. I drove 6 1/2 hours up to White Mountains to make a hike, and took my 8x10 along for the opportunity i might have - and took it. Same for the Falling Waters trail on which the Stairs fall is along. I made the trip to tick off a couple more over 4000 footers of the 48 classified in the whites. This trip, i aimed to finish the last three peaks, but got flooded out with thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flash floods. But came back with 4 photographs of 3 falls. So it was a success in any event.

At home, i make every opportunity. For me, home is two places, where i live, and where i work, which are 148 miles apart. I try to get out and photograph both every chance i can. I love discovery, and i also love adventure and new places and opportunities. But staying close to home reveals so much that so often becomes so familiar as to be dismissed.

There are many really nice people who were once at Barksdale AFB who have come back here to retire in our area. More than once, I made the statement at our photographic society that there were no pictures closer than 180 miles from Shreveport. I have since "matured" if being in your 80s is mature. By the way "they" are correct, the legs and feet DO go first........Regards!

Pioneer · Jul 15, 2017

I love to travel but the great majority of the photographs I enjoy have been taken "in my own backyard."

This is an example of being in the right place at the right time with a camera in on of my favorite mountain hideaways.

Alan Klein · Jul 15, 2017

Here's Clyde Butcher really getting into his home for pictures. His home and studio (one of them) are right there in the middle of the Everglades (Big Cypress).
I visited his gallery in Venus, Florida and bought some stuff. His BW's are huge and beautiful. His plates are tooth proof.
https://clydebutcher.com/

https://jsmolk.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/clyde_butcher_t607-groupersandwich-com.jpg

eddie · Jul 15, 2017

pdeeh said:
Yet I've seen more than once the suggestion that to photograph the familiar is to be without creativity.

That statement couldn't be further from the truth (and don't infer that I think you subscribe to it). Creativity is the ability to transform the mundane into the magnificent... to make the ordinary extraordinary. It's the capacity to view the oft seen in new, fresh ways. I have an area a few minutes from home I often photograph. I've easily walked it with a camera 100 times, and probably have made 500 exposures there. My familiarity with the area challenges my creativity, but also enhances it. Each visit, I'm driven to view it in a way I haven't previously which, to my mind, is the very definition of creativity.

removed account4 · Jul 15, 2017

i couldn't agree more with you eddie.
==
i think is people are so busy and so stretched-thin they don't
really have time or want to spend any effort or can't be present in their familiar surroundings.
and i know with me at least, if i go someplace exotic ( exotic can be someplace 1hour away that i don't go to often or 6000 miles away)
im overwhelmed by everything and it is sometimes hard to separate the static from the music.
i was up at 430 the other morning making myself a cup of coffee and noticed a shadow on the wall i had never seen before
i'll probably watch it a few more times before i photograph it .. but its about seeing it ..

Photograph near your home - Clyde Butcher

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