View allAll Photos Tagged TOPOGRAPHIC
In the background is Busse woods. A sprawling 3558 acres of ancient upland forest preserve which so far has been spared the bulldozers.
SOOC
One more attempt to structure a scene to articulate the space between the elements as the main concern.
And again a picture of 'non-thing'.
Bell & Howell plastic camera
28mm plastic meniscus lens.
Yes, devoid of romanticism, but too close.
Since then I've learned to step back
In 1972 Joe Deal began to step back and allow for more 'space' around his buildings. Baltz refers to Deal's process as "determinist". Whereby critical analysis leads to subject intensity and bland attitude.
You look at these HD ‘calendar’ landscapes where everything is so superb and breathtaking yet in that beauty there is a vapid boorishness.
Yet you look at the banal drab photos of Gronsky, Sternfeldt, Shore you see there lies a stillness of beauty which goes beyond the face of the landscape.
As photographers do we compose images out of nothing as does an artist on a blank canvas or do we structure that which is before us onto film?
Canon sure shot WP-1
Minolta SRT 201
Minolta 28mm MD lens
Ilford Delta 100
Sunny 16
SOOC
Ok, I have to admit,
no matter what the cost I am addicted to analog.
There is so much organic interaction occurring between the scene, camera, and photographer.
As with my previous shot, another instance where I wasn't satisfied with what I was getting with my Olympus micro four thirds so I pulled out the old iPhone.
I have been asked why I shy away from that modern contrasty look in my mono images. Following Henry Wessel's practice of measuring the quality of a print, I look at it to have the 'light and shadow' which inherently existed at the time of it's making.
Henry Wessel; "Allow the light of the scene to present itself naturally", be generous with your shadows. they should be 'descriptive' open areas.
Canon sure shot WP-1
Not an easily digested image as most of New topographics tend to be. We are accustomed to sparkling rivers and pristine palm tree beaches, while New Topo offers beauty in the everyday banal. "Moved away from the celebration of the beauty of nature to a visual critique of humanity's desire for expansion.
these images are meant to leave "space for thought and feeling 'psychological space'."
Photos are meant to stand alone, but knowing that immediately behind me begins a vast old forest (Busse woods) adds to the reality of man's wanton intrusion upon nature. -- IL-72 & E Frontage Rd Schaumburg Illinois -- on Google maps.
Also I prefer silence in my images, but in this case I waited for a worthy vehicle to add to the aspect of man's loud intrusion.
In this and my previous image I incorporated signs as part of the landscape we exist within. "In these New Topographic views, language plays part of a re-seen nature and degraded utopia." REFRAMING The New Topographics - pg 145 -
Canon sure shot ACE
Ilford Delta 400
Recently I studied the work of Werner Mantz who predates the New Topographics photographers back to the 1920's. His approach toward image making was quite similar to the NT movement of the 1970's, but more towards 'art'.
reference: Werner Mantz; Bridge 1929
Bridge in Cologne 1927
In post editing I tried to emulate his development style and lean to a warmer monochrome with heavier shadows. An analog shot with a modest yellow/green filter would have brought out the clouds better and made a much nicer image.
The reason I decided not to stand directly in the center of the road was because I did not want the emphasis to be on perspective, but rather the form of the bridge.
Historically New Topographics photographers were not necessarily environmentalists, but through their images humanity's behavior towards nature became visible.
Canon sure shot WP-1
Fujifilm 400
I have to get past my mind and trust the instinct of my eyes. If allowed my mind will attempt to take photographs I have already taken. It's bad enough to make photos which look like other people's pictures, but it is worse making pictures which look like yours over and over again.
Henry Wessel: "When you connect to the world, do not allow that moment to be taken by your mind."
Build it up, then tear it down and build it up again.... and the beat goes on.... the gloomy elegance of a well coordinated demolition.
"In reality there are no 'before' pictures when photographing New Topographics nature, only an endless sequence of 'afters'.
Through the jumble of languishing forms I see the surreal world of Yves Tanguy.
Lewis Baltz The New Industrial Parks Near Irvine, California are not necessarily pretty pictures, but difficult to turn away from
I was a fan of the Ricoh FF 3-AF until I purchased it's cousin this FF-90 --- a very easy to carry and use camera.
Nice 5 element lens....
New Topographics photos are not easy to 'like' much less to appreciate.
My intent here was to follow the lead of Lewis Baltz.
Minimalism in art strives to achieve an illusion. Lewis Baltz's photographs have an incidental kinship with minimalism, but instead of intentionally creating feelings through illusion they avoid such aesthetic or sentimental value.
Ricoh FF-90
New Topographics, a man altered landscape: “primarily concerned with relationships of land to culture and the particularities of social existence .” Page 40
The insult on the landscape was not complete after they finished construction of this public park. It would appear that poor tree continues to be affected by hundreds of hands rubbing against it, denuding it's trunk.
I posted these two images side by side in an attempt to convey the strangeness of this reconstructed landscape.
Surreal is an overused term, but in this case it may be the best word to describe this vast area of human created bronze Elk, trimmed trees, meadows, and murky pipe filled "lake" (retention pond).
Here my Minolta SRT 201 is working fine without the shutter problem seen in the previous shot, because this picture was shot at a lower speed.
Franka Rolfix 6x9
Kodak Gold 120
Being a 28mm photographer I am definitely not used to using this 105mm vintage glass. But that was the fun of it. Trying to utilize my standard composition style with a different system.
Kodak gold is a sweet film, but if I'm going to shoot color analog I would prefer Portra. Until such time someone brings back Kodachrome. What is your favorite film?