back2basics; Landscaping my Mind。。。

There are as many styles of photography as there are different photographers. We each pursue the fulfillment that our art offers by interpreting the world in different ways. For many years, working as a full-time photographer, I produced commercial work of various types but actually found fulfillment as a photojournalist with our local press.

Even though leaving the press in 2004, still... I needed a new outlet, a new source of inspiration and expression. And it’s not surprising I re-found it in landscape photography. I love nature and the great outdoors and when (Ahem!) as a younger man I would wander the streets of major cities photographing the urban lifestyles I now find that wandering at the parks & beaches at sunrise/sunset is what satisfies my soul. Yes, here I would like to ‘stress’ again that I’m not a fan of shooting sunrise nor sunset pictures rather, I love its nice warm lighting that cast on my subjects. Period! (Need not argue please, you just need to do yours and perfecting at it while I simply enjoy watching what you’re doing. Fair? :-) )

Perhaps it fits with my personality type as I loved the quietness and stillness of a serene landscape awaiting to be immortalize with my camera. But when most of us thought that landscapes are of calm, serene and passive environments, I tend to like showing some movement, like drifting clouds, swaying trees, flowing waters to convey these movement in an image that will add drama, mood and create interesting point of interest.

Landscape can change dramatically resonating with the weather at any given time. As a result, choosing the right time to shoot is of real importance especially when you already have what’s a picture-to-be in mind. But many newbie see a sunny day thinking that it’s the best time to go out with their camera. Well, not that it’s wrong however an overcast day that is threatening to rain might present us with better opportunities to create images that are really moody with heavy-impact overtones too. Lookout for storms, wind, morning mist, sun shining through dark skies, rainbows… etc and work with these God-sent variations in the weather rather than just waiting for the next sunny blue sky day. (Siem Reap here we come again!)

More often than not, it isn't clear… even to me, why I pursue my craft with such passion and worst, having brain-washed so many of you out there! Hahaha... Probably this issue explores my recent encounter when I learned something new about my desire, my motivations, my love-ones and myself.