Field Study #1, 5x5 Palladium Print

I have been thinking a lot about generalization in my photographs lately. In the case of landscape photography, the natural tendency is to become focused on specifics; a particular tree, a river, a configuration of stones or stumps. I can spend countless hours looking at a scene and reconfiguring it in my mind into something very composed and clear. I enjoy this process and I have been very happy taking these kinds of photographs.

There is another side of me, however, that feels trapped within this traditional view of the landscape. These scenes have been done before; first by painters, and now by countless other photographers. No matter how unique the view, how strong the composition and technical skill, it can feel a bit stale and irrelevant.

These photographs are some of my first attempts at a codifying a more generalized, less heroic view of the landscape. By overwhelming with detail, I am removing the importance of any single detail within the image. I am much more interested in what it feels like to stand in the full daylight sun, mosquito bitten, and experience the smell of the early fall air than to worry about a particular arrangement of facts.

Field Study #2, 5x5 Palladium Print

Are they successful? I don’t know yet. I need spend a lot more time on this before know if I’m on to anything. I just thought I would share some new work and see if anyone had a response.