Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
PHOTOGRAPHY TALK
One of the things I love about photography is the freedom it lends to create a composition the way I like it. That's the foundation for each image — the foundation that you will build on as your images go through the creative process. It's what sets your image apart from images made in the same location by others.
For me, nature and landscape photography resonate with the spirit of who I am. Traveling to see new places, being out in nature, and expressing my creative side all seem to come together with this art. There is something exciting about planning a trip to a place you have never been. It's an adventure! Once you have arrived at a destination, there's the anticipation of hiking along a trail and wondering what photographic gems are waiting. We usually have a goal in mind, whether it is a waterfall, ancient rock formations, or a cave, but the real adventure starts as soon as you head out on the trail. Some days it takes hours to get to the goal because there is so much to shoot. Around every corner is some little treasure just begging to be photographed. Then there is the hike back. Walking back on the trail presents all new compositions and lighting conditions. It can be like you are on a completely different trail. Other days, the prize shot is at the end of the trail, and that's all you get.
While out hiking and shooting, it's easy to walk up and take the main shot. You know, the one that most people see and take. There is nothing wrong with that, and sometimes it really is the best one. But, I try to take a moment and connect to the environment I am in. I like to slow down for a moment, take in a few deep breaths, and just be there, in the moment. This helps me let go of all the everyday concerns and appreciate where I am. It also makes me aware of things around me that I may not have noticed at first. Once I do this, I start to hear birds, water, a breeze, and lots of other sounds that I didn't notice before I intentionally connected to the environment. And I notice other things. It might be a different angle at which I can shoot the subject. Maybe a higher vantage point, maybe from a completely different spot, maybe lower to the ground where I can include some water reflections. I might notice that the light looks different from one place to another. Maybe the subject can be a little less significant in the scene and not take up the whole frame. There are so many ways to shoot one subject, and that is the foundation for your image in photography.
Once I shoot what I would consider the "main scene," I start looking for a slightly smaller composition. This would be a subject within the subject. For example, if the subject was a waterfall, I might look for a smaller section of the waterfall where the water looks interesting the way it falls over some rocks, or the way the water hits the pool at the very bottom of the waterfall and creates a rainbow. Maybe it's a tree next to the falls that managed to grow out of the rocky terrain. Once I have found all of those shots, I'll look for even smaller compositions. Then maybe micro-compositions. Then, finally, I will look for completely different subjects, like birds, creeks, wildflowers, and small wildlife. All these compositions put together a story of the place I just visited. I hope these stories will be seen for years to come.
Traveling and taking photos of our journeys with my husband is a dream come true. We go everywhere together. In the beginning, we thought we might have to make an effort to shoot different things. But, as it turns out, we don't have to try — we just do. One thing that Lee and I have noticed is that when we sit down to go through our images at the end of the day, we are surprised at how we each came back with very different compositions from the same place. As people and artists, we see things differently. That is what makes each image unique to the photographer.
We sincerely hope that as you look through the images in this book, you will be inspired to visit Illinois and its beautiful and interesting places. Whether you are interested in history, hiking, or just traveling and sightseeing, Illinois has a lot to offer.
DeeDee
There are a different set of pressures in taking on a book or photo project such as this one, at least from a photographer's point of view. It is not an option for us to come away with no shots, regardless of the location, weather, lack of features, or even our own personal feelings about a given area. Each location has its own unique characteristics, challenges, and rewards. The shots are there, and we as photographers have to find them, even if we have to dig for them. Some areas are flat and might appear dull and boring at first glance. Some areas may only have one key feature — and that's if you're lucky. Some areas might not be as well kept-up as other areas. But no matter how any given location might first appear, you can always find something to take a photo of if you look for it, or rather I should say when you look for it. When I run into a situation where at first glance I feel like there might not be any decent photos to be taken, I get the camera out and start clicking anyway, even though I know I won't use some of the shots. I notice that very quickly things start to look a little different through the viewfinder. It usually doesn't take too long to get in the groove and come up with something likable. Before you know it, you'll have more shots than you thought, even if they are not exactly what you had in mind when you arrived. I have actually came away from this very situation with shots that have surprised me and honestly turned out to be some of my best work. I simply wasn't expecting the results I got. Experience has taught me to never judge a place based on what I think it should look like or my own personal preferences, but rather just get my camera out and start capturing photos. It works every time without fail.
Weather is another factor. Many photographers who shoot for magazines or books, whether about travel or lifestyle or what have you, are on a deadline of some sort, and there simply is no control over the weather, even if the deadline is looming. The weather is not concerned with our photography schedules. It is painfully true that landscape photographers are at the mercy of Mother Nature, for good or ill. When we aren't able to get a scene or season we want, we simply have to find the next best solution or a workaround for it. This might mean really stretching yourself to get an image that will at least convey to the viewer what season it is, even if it's not the exact weather conditions you had in mind. You do the best you can with what you are given; you take your best shot, you learn from it, and you move on. I also find that days of inclement weather, cloudy days, slightly rainy, fog, heavy clouds and so forth can make for better, more interesting photos than what is commonly viewed as ideal photo conditions. Many people believe you should stay in on these types of days and not go out and take pictures. It comes down to being open enough to shooting under any conditions and shooting anything, even if it's not what you originally wanted to shoot. You simply have to be adaptable if you want to be successful with your photography. This goes for adapting to the weather as well as all the various photo situations you encounter.
Planning each trip is also key in making the most out of your travels. Google is definitely your friend here and almost always my first stop. Research each location you want to visit thoroughly. I find most websites are a bit inconsistent with one another, so I visit several, then average my findings. We always like to know when and where the sun and moon will rise and set. This is particularly helpful for magic and blue hour photos — that's an hour before and after the sun rises and sets for the day. The lighting during these times allows for near perfectly lit photos, hence the term "magic hour." Next, are there any good features available to place against a galaxy shot? Are there any waterfalls, historical landmarks, or anything unusual that might be of interest? Sometimes talking to locals can get you to a place that the world at large is unaware of outside of a small, confined area. These are hidden gems and usually don't disappoint. You can also look to see what others have done and decide if you should visit a place or pass on it. I find simple tourist shots that have been posted to the web to be the most helpful in my general understanding of what really is at a given area I'm unfamiliar with. Many of them give you an overall idea of what's there and what you will be presented with. This will also allow you to formulate a strategy for taking the best possible photos before you even get to the site.
Books of other interests can also be of great assistance to photographers. I'm not talking about photography books in this case, but rather books on other subjects such as hiking, camping, oddities, biking, jogging, off the beaten path, and so on. I find a wealth of information in these types of books that aid in helping me decide whether I should visit a location. Hiking books in particular go into a good deal of detail about directions, trail lengths and difficulty, travel time, and specific or unusual features along the way. I often find them invaluable. Another thing to do is hop on the internet and request a free vacation or visitors' guide to wherever you are thinking about going. These are great for getting an idea of where to eat, where to sleep, local prices, and the areas that have the most interest and visitors. You can then look deeper into these areas and come up with a plan. Many tourist centers and state or area travel sites will also send you free maps. These are good to have in a pinch. We tend to stop at rest areas and browse the available literature. We respect that state agencies, recreation, and entertainment venues publish these for free to travelers, so we only take what is of interest to us. Today's technology allows us to see a place, make a plan, and get the most out of our time, photography, and visit all before ever leaving the comforts of home. It's a great time to be a photographer.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Illinois Across The Land"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Lee Mandrell and DeeDee NiederhouseMandrell.
Excerpted by permission of Indiana University Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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