I have never been all that great at new year’s resolutions. The will power and self discipline to cut cookies from my diet or to learn the guitar just aren’t there. I’ll admit the latter has more to do with my complete lack of rhythm than will power, but you get the idea. While I am not much good at resolving, I do like the new year because it is a good time to look ahead.
Over the last week, one question I’ve been asking myself is, “Where do I want my landscape photography to be 12 months from now?” In many ways I feel as though I’m standing at a crossroads of creativity. To define this crossroads a bit better, I should provide some context. A few months ago, I came across photographer Mark Hespenheide’s artist’s statement; I encourage you to read the entire thing as it really is quite inspiring, but one passage has returned to the forefront of my brain over and over again.
Mediocre landscape photography can only reinforce the ideas about nature that we already hold. Good landscape photography can introduce us to new ways of seeing the world. Truly great landscape photography can change the way we perceive our place in the world and the way we interact with the world.
After reading this, it is easy to imagine three diverging paths at a crossroads and to understand the fact that each path requires increasing levels of introspection and challenge. Of course any photographer would say that they choose to make truly great images, but what does that really take? The answer lies somewhere different for everyone I think, however the same basic principles should apply to any landscape photographer.
Your artist’s statement is an incredibly powerful document. If you are honest with yourself as you write it, it will be about you, the artist. It will not describe your accomplishments, but rather your motivation and inspiration behind making images to begin with. Your artist’s statement is not static–it needs to change over time as you do. As I look back to my favorite images of 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, I can see a definite shift in my vision; why should my artist’s statement not reflect that vision? Even if you don’t make it public, write your artist’s statement and put it away somewhere. In a few months, revisit it and be brutally honest with yourself as to whether your actions (and images) have matched your words.
One of the very first things I have done when I visit a new place is to study it on a map. I want to know the place as if it is an old friend. I want to know the names of the valleys, canyons, and mountains, and once I have learned that, I want to know why they earned these names. Just as understanding why you make photographs, the establishment of an intimate relationship with the land will make images more meaningful. As a photographer you should read–prolifically–about the places that you love to establish a sense of place. When you visit these places, it should feel like you have arrived home.
This all culminates in a creative process in which you get to know yourself and your subject intimately, and it goes beyond the postcard or calendar images that landscape photography is often regarded as being. When you express your subject photographically, Ansel Adams wrote, “it is a vivid experience, sudden, compelling, and inevitable.” It is, “a summation of total experience and instinct.”
Photographically, I operate on fairly simple principles. I believe there is beauty in life as in death, there is compelling order in chaos, and although we must look deeply, the intricacies and intimate details of the landscape are very often the best part; these are the characteristics of the landscape I want to express.
As we move into 2013, which path do you plan on taking, and what do you plan to do in order to get there?
Greg, you are not only growing greatly as a photographer, but you are becoming more and more articulate writing about photography. It has been interesting to read your perspectives here. Part of why you’ve learned and grown so much and gotten so good is through being a good student of photography, learning from everyone, being observant and staying alert to new ideas. Too many photographers these days, sometimes including myself through my father’s words, make the mistake of jumping right into being teachers when we need to be students for a while first, and maybe even for a lifetime, to really glean all there is to glean and give all there is to give to the art of photography.
Many thanks, David. I sometimes worry about how good of a student I am, but I appreciate you saying that.
Very nice post, Greg. I’m in the process of writing a bio for my new website and your thoughts on “artist statements” came along at just the right time. That second image is outstanding, by the way!
Thanks for commenting, Bret! It’s funny, the last time I posted about an artist’s statement, people also said they were either writing theirs or struggling with them. This seems to be a common theme among photographers.
Looking forward to your new site and your statement. Thanks for the kind words about the image.
After struggling with many different versions of my own statement, I finally just wrote down a basic summary what I feel and what I think when I am out in nature. I think it is a little unconventional perhaps the way I did it, but at least I can call it uniquely mine.
I seem to go down these crossroads every year as well Greg. Sometimes I am not sure where I am going until after I have been there. 🙂
There’s nothing wrong with unconventional. I think too many artist’s statements focus on the first time Uncle John gifted us his camera and how it “changed our lives.” 🙂 I think being honest, writing from a place where you feel deeply, and going from there is a good thing to do.
Hey greg
Nice read, and 2 wonderful images.
Don’t you feel that an artist’s statement can similarly be limiting, if we begin to define ourselves and what we do too tightly?
Cheers
Carl
Many thanks, Carl, for the kind words.
I don’t think an artist’s statement is a set of rules by any means, and as a result it should not be limiting. As I mentioned in reply to Mark above, I think it’s a way to write honestly about why you make photographs. I don’t think there’s anything with practicing verbalizing this, even if we aren’t all bloggers/writers.
Besides, you can always rewrite it, any time you want. 🙂
I’ll echo what David said, and just add that the photography and writing here on your blog is top shelf. Great stuff… some of the best around. Always something to ponder.
As far as your questions go, no answers here. More often than not I find myself standing at such crossroads scratching my head.
Many thanks, PJ. Well, I often find myself scratching my head too, but I try not to let on. 😉
Nice post Greg. I really like the style you’re developing. I feel like I can relate, myself being ‘a person of the west.’ But it’s your writing that keeps me reading. Somehow it makes your images much more personal. I like to read the meaningful philosophy behind an artist’s art. Plus it gives me something to think about. I like writing about my photograpyhy, but tend to focus on the travel or technical aspects. If there is one thing I want to do in the next year is develop my artistic philosophy, or at least verbalize it better. It seems to me great art comes from artists with a great philosphical vision (artist’s mission). Happy New Year!
Hi, Wade. Thanks for commenting; your compliments mean a lot to me.
I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the West, style, philosophy, etc. This is something I feel strongly about and want to try to convey in my blog.
I can’t promise anything too profound, but I hope you keep reading…I’ll keep writing.
Thanks again and happy new year to you too!
Cheers,
Greg
A great post with some excellent thoughts and images Greg!
I took the time a while ago to write a rather un-conventional artist’s statement. While I never ended up posting it online, it gave me a chance to look at who I am as a person and what it is that I believe in/value. It’s one of the most important steps I have taken in my photography career and something I plan to revisit frequently.
It has been a pleasure viewing your photography and writing over the past year. Both display a deep personal connection with the land and are something that I know I can turn to at any point for motivation!
Hi, Kyle. Thanks for commenting, and for the compliment.
About 2 years ago I completely redid my artist’s statement and am feeling the need to do that again (part of the motivation for this post, I guess); I agree that it’s a really valuable thing to do.
Greg, though we have not ‘known’ each other for too long, you seem to have really come into your own during this time period. I find it rewarding to read about your personal and photographic explorations, and you’ve definitely given me something to think about heading into 2013.
Many thanks for the support, Wesley; I’ve enjoyed getting to know you over the last year or so (less than that I imagine) and have enjoyed your writings as well.
Looking forward to seeing where 2013 takes us all!
Cheers,
Greg
Some great thinking at work here, Greg. Consistently strong photography is not that common, but it’s even more rare to find it alongside good thinking & writing. 🙂
I’ve not attempted to write a serious artist’s statement. I have the usual bio blurbs on various sites but I don’t think any of mine say much that’s useful. I’ve been thinking about this for awhile now, though. Perhaps it’s approaching the time I should try to articulate something — even if just to myself — that expresses more of why I do what I do, not just a smattering of details about what I do…
Thanks so much for the compliments, Royce. Right back at you with all of them. As I said over on your blog, I have admired your work for years, and in fact I thought about you when I visited Chaco Canyon over the holidays.
I think that’s the crux of the post…differentiating the ‘what’ from the ‘why.’ On the surface it seems like an easy question to answer, and maybe I overthink things, but I am not so convinced it *is* that easy of a question to answer. I’d look forward to reading anything you might come up with, because I’m sure it would be an insightful read.
I’m not sure its a new path in creativity for me but I am slowly moving away from the “big in frame” shots I have tried to do for many a long day to getting a better sense of scale. We are such a small part of our environment I sometimes feel this gets lost in my images. It also means I may carrty my 800mm lens less – a real bonus for the ageing body!
A sense of scale–a sense of man’s place in nature–is a really difficult thing to convey sometimes, Andrew. I wonder if there’s something bigger at play here–maybe a sense of humility in showing man’s place in nature.
I saw on your blog that you have been thinking about this; I have no suggestions other than to wish you luck and that I look forward to see how portray this…