The Photographer's Portfolio Development Workshop by William Neill

Author:William Neill [William Neill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rocky Nook
Published: 2022-03-31T00:00:00+00:00

MY PHOTOGRAPHER’S STATEMENT

The reason I photograph is to experience the beauty of Nature, of wild places. I explore the essential elements of rock and tree, of cloud and rushing water to discover the magic and mystery of the landscape. My search for beauty is a passionate and idealistic one. It is the spirit of the land I seek, be it in a small piece of urban wildness or in a vast wilderness. Rachel Carson, in her book The Sense of Wonder, writes, “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”

Photography is a quiet, intensely meditative activity for me. Minor White, the Zen-influenced photographer, stated, “Be still with yourself, until the object of your attention affirms your presence.” When the light and the subject inspire me, I am compelled to compose an image. The images that I enjoy making the most are those that rely on emotional response and perception rather than the spectacle of the scene. I enjoy isolating the details of a scene, often to the point of abstraction. An intimate and enigmatic feeling can come through by creating photographs where the content or orientation is not obvious. I would rather make an image that asks a question than one that answers one, one that intrigues and arouses curiosity in the viewer.

What little wilderness is left on earth will be lost if we don’t develop a new and enlightened environmental stewardship where Nature and Man are not considered separately. Barry Lopez writes, “Wild landscapes are necessary to our being. We require them as we require air and water. But we need, at the same time, to create a landscape in which wilderness makes deep and eminent sense as part of the whole, a landscape in which wilderness is not an orphan.”

Perhaps one way the world will change is for people to go through a profound aesthetic experience that makes us aware that we are personally accountable for our actions and how we affect the environment. I can only hope that my photographs can provide such an inspirational experience and convey an enduring sense of wonder, a deep appreciation of the magic, beauty, and mystery of the natural world.

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