Alpenglow can provide a subtle source of light for other regions in a landscape photograph. The photo published with this post illustrates the magenta color cast that was created by the alpenglow on clouds that are included in this scene.
See the Changing Light and Weather Gallery on my web site at www.canaanvalleyphotography.com
Also see the Fall 2009 and Impact of Weather and Light on One Scene galleries on my web site.
The fall to winter transition evokes diverse emotions. There is quite beauty that is not found in other seasons. Landscape photographers that wish to improve their photographic seeing skills can benefit from photographing during periods when the flora are at their most prolific best.
See the Fall to Winter Transition Gallery on my web site: www.canaanvalleyphotography.com
The interaction of weather and light can have dominate effect on a landscape image as composition. My work is inspired by Claude Monet who spent the latter half of his career painting what he called the envelop (interaction of light and atmospheric conditions. Paul Cezanne painted Motagne Saint Victorie more than 90 times. When asked why by his critics he stated that he would continue to paint the mountain until he ceased getting new sensations.
The slide show depicts the interaction of weather and light on one Canaan Valley scene.
It has always been the case that accomplished landscape photographers render many of their images with regions of the photograph that are black. This is the equivalent to clipping the shadows with modern day digital cameras. It is still possible to expose with the histogram show now clipped shadows if the black point is adjusted in either Lightroom or Photoshop.
Examples from the books of landscape masters that include photographs
with clipped shadows
1. Ansel Adams, Making of his 40 Most Recognized Photographs, 50% of the photos
2. Galen Rowel, Yosemite book, 50% of Photos have black regions
3. William Niell, Landscapes of Sprit: 30% of Photos have black regions
4. Ernst Hass, Creation: 30% of Photos have black regions
5. Art Wolfe, Rhythms: 30% of Photos have black regions
6. Jim Brandenburg, Chased by Light: 30% of Photos have black regions
7. Brenda Tharp: Creative Nature Photography: 25% of Photos have black regions
Further Thoughts
The vast majority of the photos with total black (silhouetted) regions in the classic books resulted from the photographer’s decision regarding exposure rather than an exposure error of any sort.
Any inference that totally black regions in high quality landscape photo is the result of poor technique is simply not the case. Such methods have been widely acclaimed by the best landscape photographers from the earliest days through the present.
Dolly Sods and Canaan Valley: Changing Light & Weather
Dr. Joseph Henry
Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Valley Vibes Program
at
Canaan Valley State Park Lodge
January 16, 2010
Rapid changes in light and weather produce stunning changes in the beauty of the sub-arctic flora and land forms at both Dolly Sods and the larger Canaan Valley region.
Photographs from Joe Henry’s 2007 five month, one-man show at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh will be used to illustrate the impact of both light and weather changes. A sense of timing of these changes will be illustrated with 2009 images. Relative few locations were photographed with the camera fixed in many cases while the light and/or weather changed.
The show will be brought to life with a slide and music presentation of the Fall 2009 portfolio of Canaan Valley and Dolly Sods photographs.
I have broad interest in the rapidly expanding understanding in visual perception and related work in cognitive science. We are at the dawn of being able to develop compositional tools that hold the promise of:
Much of this is hypothesis. I hope to create a thread of discussion that will attract both photographers, lovers flat art and visual perception researchers to share perspectives.
Now for a more specific description. There are cells in the visual cortex that respond only to line, orientation of line, shape, e.t.c. Brain imaging can produce empirical evidence of which parts of the brain “light up” when certain visual elements are presented to he viewer. As this body of knowledge expands it should be a fruitful body of knowledge for photographers and other artists to explore. Advances in the understanding how the brain constructs integrated images from very rudimentary data transmitted by the optic nerver on edges, line, orientation, shape, color and other graphic elements is likely lead to revolutionary insights for the art community.
I welcome you perspectives and alternative view points. I will occasionally post more detailed information to provoke discussion.
There is diverse art community in the Canaan Valley and nearby area. The landscape motifs at both Dolly Sods and Canaan Valley provide limitless possibilities
for creating images that can be rendered has high quality fine art prints.
Fine art prints are available from Joseph Henry’s PhotoShelter home page. See the galleries page. When you open a specific gallery the image thumbnails are displayed woth a cart link under each image. When you open a specific photograph there will be also be cart link. You can use the light box link to save photos you wish to review at later time.
11.7″x16.5″ and 13″x19″ prints are for sale. 17″x22″ prints will be available soon. All prints are produced with Epson archival inks and Premium Photo Luster paper.
The subarctic tundra plant communities in the Denali National Park and nearby regions are striking similar to the plant flora at Dolly Sods and parts of nearby Canaan Valley. See the Alaska – Dolly Sods Flora Similarities gallery at my PhotoShelter web page. Move your mouse over the Joseph Henry’s PhotoShelter Home Page link in the upper right hand corner of this blog to reveal the gallery link.
The images in the Fall 2009 Portfolio gallery at my PhotoShelter web site illustrate the effects of changing light and weather. Light and weather often have more impact on the quality and especially the emotional content of landscape photograph than compositon. The primary goal of my photography this fall was to photograph relatively few landscape sites (motifs) and keep the camera fixed while the light and/or weather was changing. Both Dolly Sods and Canaan Valley have frequent weather changes. Weather fronts are usually rapidly moving. You can find a link to my PhotoShelter web site galleries by moving your mouse cursor over the Joseph Henry’s PhotoShelter Home page link in the upper right corner of this blog. Once you are in the Fall 2009 Portfolio gallery consider choosing the slide show option. This will give you a better feel for the impacts of changing light and/or weather than viewing the individual photos.
Cross Reference: All see the Dolly Sods Storms gallery for dramatic examples of the impact of rapidly changing weather. More images will be included in this gallery soon.
In 2010 I switched to Canon system after 25 years of using Nikon cameras and lenses. Canon’s f4 L series lenses motivated the switch. Nikons best quality zoom lens are f2.8. In my opinion there is little benefit to justify the much heaver f2.8 lenses for landscape photography. I use a Canon 5D Mark II body, 70-200 f4L, 24-105 f4L, 45mm and 90mm tilt-shft lenses. A Gitzo Mountaineer carbon fiber tripod with Arca Swiss B-1 ball head was used with virtually all of the images. A circular polarizer and split neutral density filter was on some of the photographs.
Move your mouse over the Joseph Henry’s PhotoShelter Home Page link in the upper right corner of this blog to reveal the gallery link.
Dolly Sods and Canaan Valley: Changing Light & Weather Dr. Joseph Henry Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Valley Vibes Program at Canaan Valley State Park Lodge January 16, 2010 Rapid changes in light and weather produce stunning changes in the beauty of the sub-arctic flora and land forms at both Dolly Sods and…
The interaction of weather and light can have dominate effect on a landscape image as composition. My work is inspired by Claude Monet who spent the latter half of his career painting what he called the envelop (interaction of light and atmospheric conditions. Paul Cezanne painted Motagne Saint Victorie more than 90 tim…
Advances in the understanding how the brain constructs integrated images from very rudimentary data on edges, line, orientation, shape, color and other graphic elements is likely lead to revolutionary insights for the art community.…
Advances in the understanding how the brain constructs integrated images from very rudimentary data on edges, line, orientation, shape, color and other graphic elements is likely lead to revolutionary insights for the art community.…
Advances in the understanding how the brain constructs integrated images from very rudimentary data on edges, line, orientation, shape, color and other graphic elements is likely lead to revolutionary insights for the art community.…
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