Introduction
This book is about the practical and emotional aspects of making black
& white landscape photographs. It's about getting a feel for what
it's like to be a landscape photographer, but most of all it's about
enthusiasm; enthusiasm about landscape photography, enthusiasm about
being in the wilderness and enthusiasm about getting out there and
"doing it". There is after all
only one way to become a good photographer and that is to take plenty
of photos; then, when you've done that, take plenty more. In time
the technical aspects of photography will become automatic but something
else will happen. Slowly you'll stop looking at rocks and trees
and start seeing relationships and balance. You'll learn to filter
and discard the lesser images before you waste film on them (well
most of the time anyway).
Because all photographers want to know the technical
details they are included, however apart from that there is very
little mention of f-stops, films, cameras etc. in the body of the
book. I do describe the circumstances behind many of the images;
I show examples of some less than successful first attempts and
I describe how many of the effects were achieved.
But this is not a text book. It's a book about
lifestyle and dedication. It gives you a feeling for the lifestyle
of a landscape photographer and hints at the level of dedication
that is required to be a good landscape photographer.
This book is divided into four main parts. The
first features images that, while some of my best, have no particular
story behind them or at least not enough story to warrant a full
page blurb.
The second part is just the opposite, all words
and almost no images. In this part I cover subjects such as reasons
for choosing black & white, the meaning of a photo and the art
vs. the business of photography.
The third part is both images and words, consisting
of images and thoughts, either about, or evoked by, the images.
The final part includes the glossary, an index,
a brief section about Australia, and a map showing the general location
of each image. |
