LPOTY ???
"But you are not a landscape photographer,..... are you??? I mean, you photograph people, right??? And doorknobs??? That's not like photographing trees and stuff is it?? " I hear this all the time.
Some people will think I'm only entering because my boyfriend got in the book last year. And that I've never shot a landscape until I went to Scotland with him this year. So. Very. Wrong!
I'm a full time photographer. I've been a photographer forever it seems. My passion is Travel photography, which surprisingly incorporates different kinds of landscapes. Yes I'm known for my people, music, fashion, documentary and product photography but surprise surprise, a lot of my past/present commercial work is actually ..... wait for it...... LANDSCAPE!
My clients were and still are Town Planning Consultants, Quarries and Landfill Sites, The Environment Agency, Travel companies and many more.
Yes I've walked for miles, waiting for the right light, I've even used a tripod and I have a huge box of filters. But I like to break the rules now and again... (who imposes these rules anyway?) I shoot landscapes without a tripod, I'll use a car bonnet or rock if I have to! Or dare I say it..... shoot handheld!
Yes I've photographed more landscapes in the past year than I have in previous years. It's a great way of having down time and still staying in love with photography when the rest of the time is crazy busy constantly shooting/editing. It's also so nice when you finally meet someone who shares the same passions as you and doesn't mind the hours of non-communication which often comes from being at opposite ends of the beach!
I take all and none of my photography seriously. Yes that's right. I don't stress that the shot is not obvious and ready for me to press the shutter, I will go looking for it and make it happen. And I will ALWAYS come back with something good which I am happy with.
So I have entered this competition with photos which bring me enjoyment, some have been a stolen moment after an event, or while wandering around the city and others from our amazing trip to Scotland.
I have entered images which still come under the genre of landscape, maybe a little more abstract than traditional but nonetheless, still a landscape image.
I hope you like some of them, I hope some challenge your ideas about landscape, I don't mind if you really dislike some of them. It would be nice to be shortlisted, even better to be commended and be in the book/exhibition. Of course it would be awesome to win a category. I'm being realistic, I've never entered before. I know my vision is different to everyone else's so I'm taking a risk entering not as a landscape photographer but as a photographer who takes landscapes too!
These are some of my ideas about the genre of Landscape - the more traditional selection....
1. Loch Lomond through the trees
Taken on way back from Scotland, this image made
Flickr explore I particularly like the abstraction but incorporating all the classic elements of landscape; trees, water, mist, rocks and land.
Entered into Classic View and Your View categories
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| Loch Lomond through the trees |
2. First Morning
My first morning waking up in Terry's camper van on Mellon Udrigle beach. My first proper sunrise of the trip. This was my idea of heaven!
Classic View
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| First Morning |
3. High Waters
Taken a short time after the above image, at Loch Lomond. Another play on boundaries, where the Loch and the land become one!
Classic view/Your View
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| High Waters |
4. Immersion
The Black Mount of Glencoe. I wanted to concentrate on the surface immersed in cloud and show where the relationship between two become one.
Classic view.
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| Immersion |
5. Roadtrip
Aptly named - my first real stop to take in the beauty around us. This is what I imagined it would be like. It certainly didn't disappoint!
Classic view
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| Roadtrip |
6.Standing Proud
The standing stones at Calanais. Each stone was beautiful, I wanted to show the raw beauty of this stone in context with her sisters. This image also made Flickr Explore.
Classic view
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| Standing Proud |
7. Storm-o-way
An incredible sight as we drove from the ferry at Stornoway on our way to Harris.
Classic view
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| Storm-o-way |
8. Tree House
A very familiar sight on the Isle of Harris, Derelict buildings everywhere, taken back by their land. Classic view/Your view
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| Tree House |
9. The Awakening
Sunrise on Mellon Udrigle beach. I had never seen the light dance like hard rain on the sand.
Classic view
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| The Awakening |
10. Sticks and Stones
I could identify with the chaos of this beach. A pile of sticks. In no particular order. Some look for the lonely rock but to me this was perfection.
Classic view
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| Sticks & Stones |
11. Before the Fire
Taken from Canary Wharf with a Canon G12. My first experience of seeing rain like this. The sky turned to fire but I prefer these more subdued colours against the stark grey of the city!
Urban view
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| Before the Fire |
12. Points of View
Another moment after an event up high. So many unexpected colours in the city. So many spires. So many cranes. The moment the sun turned everything to gold.
Urban view
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| Points of View |
See my next blog post coming soon with the my images entered for Your View and Living the View
Tracy
