photographic theory

I am a finally settling back into a ‘normal’ rhythm after returning from my Wild Lands & Wild Life: Cordova Photo Tour, this past Saturday. After over a full week on the road, with many late nights, a few very early rises and a mid-tour hard hitting virus, this tour was a tour de force. And soooooo worth it! The clients had an excellent time. One of the clients even cried. “Wait. I thought you said you had an ‘excellent time’, Dave?” My client (who shall go un-identified) was seated next to me during one of our aerial photography sessions. I turned towards them mid-flight and caught the glint of a tear rolling down their cheek. I asked if everything was ok. The reply was so poignant. “It’s...

Australian professional landscape photographer (and fellow Fstop gear user!), Christian Fletcher, is having a great discussion over on his site. It’s in regards to creating art that people haven’t seen, particularly in photography. Photographers far more elegant than me have handled this topic before. Here in America, one of my friends and ‘phantom mentors’, Guy Tal has said: “Photograph for yourself and satisfy your own sensibilities and aesthetics. True artists do not pander to a pre-selected audience. Instead, they carve an audience of their own from those who will encounter and be moved by their work.” “The best way to use your imagination is simply to not stand in its way.” I think he’s right. We have to shoot for...

“Entangled”, Chugach National Forest, Alaska. ©2011 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D Mk 2, Tokina 16-28/2.8 @ 16mm. 0.5″ @ f/18, ISO 400) I don’t work much in black & white photography. I think I must be the only photographer that skipped past the darkroom and dove directly into chromes. Well, let me make one thing clear – I never ‘skipped’. And no, there was no ‘prancing’, either. It’s always funny, talking with other photographers whose career started before the advent of digital – many of them speak with a great reverence and that certain ‘twinkle’ in their eye(s) when it comes to the time they used to spend in the darkroom. “I really miss the smell”. Of...

I thought I’d try something new for my blog. The feedback regarding my latest image, “Winter’s Embrace”, has been fantastic. I’m very picky about my work and all of my friends say that I’m my own worst critic. I’ve always thought that was a key to making beautiful images. I tend to pick apart my work, section by section, layer by layer, and imperfection by dang-blasted imperfection. So if I like an image, I know it’s “decent enough” to show off. I’m really happy with this latest image. For me, it speaks softly of serenity. You can almost feel the light fluffy snow cascading off the graceful and towering spruce trees. If stillness can be felt, this is where you can find it in spades. The snow here is...

A few days ago, I “sat down” with professional photographer and writer, Guy Tal. Guy lives in Torrey, Utah, and specializes in photographing wild spaces in the American Southwest. I recently reviewed his new eBook, “Creative Landscape Photography” and found it to be vital reading material that belongs on every nature photographer’s book shelf (physical or digital). I’ve been a fan of Guy’s photography and writing for several years now, since I first started participating in various photography forums. His photography is absolutely stunning and shines through in its inherent simplicity. It makes you drop your jaw in awe. His writing is inspirational and contemplative, subtle in style but bold in context. It makes you...

“The goal is not to make you creative. Whether you know it or not, you already are. The challenge, rather, is learning to tap into and focus your creativity and to help it find its ultimate expression in a photographic image.” – Guy Tal There is something about the winter that brings on the desire to curl up under a thick blanket, or stretch out in front of a warm crackling fireplace, and crack open a good book. I remember doing this often in my youth. My parents had a great fireplace in the living room of our old house above the Wisconsin River. Big flakes would be falling outside, drifting slowly to the ground and muffling all the other sounds. It was very easy to lose myself in the crackling warmth behind the mesh grate, and before I knew it...