In chatting with visitors to the gallery I've learned most assume landscape photography requires patience — waiting for the right light. That may be true for some photographers but is not the style I've found most successful.
I've had more luck approaching the challenge with a spirit of discovery and an open mind, not unlike many of the artists I've written about in earlier posts: Maira Kalman, Alex Webb, Steve McCurry…etc.
Though the following excerpt from an essay by Oscar Wilde refers to the viewer of art, it seems to me equally important that the artist cultivate a similar mindset during the creative process:
The temperament to which Art appeals … is the temperament of receptivity. That is all.
If a man approaches a work of art with any desire to exercise authority over it and the artist, he approaches it in such a spirit that he cannot receive any artistic impression from it at all.
Comments
One response to “Receptivity”
Hello Brian,
At present, for me at least adventuring is the essence of my landscape photography, travelling to new destinations both locally and further afield on a weekly basis always offers a change in environment, weather and light and keeps my excitement piqued.
That being said, there have been a few occasions where I have found myself wishing I had a few days or weeks to really settle at a location, to truly understand the plays of the light and the elements across the landscape a more intimate understanding if you will.