Newsletter No. 50: October 2009
© Chris Harris. All rights reserved.
© Chris Harris. All rights reserved.
Get an e-mail notification when a new newsletter appears on this site
The Search for Beauty
Celebrating 50 Photographic Newsletters
This Newsletter celebrates the 50th edition of my Newsletter which began 50 months ago. It was originally sent out to a small group of 72 friends and acquaintances, but today, it goes out to a few thousand individuals around the world.
I receive many e-mails after each issue, many of whom talk about the inspiration they receive from them. I am delighted to hear this, of course, but I must also say, that the process of thinking about and writing these Newsletters, together with these responses, is also a huge source of inspiration for me and my photography.
During this past year I have given considerable thought to my career as a photographer. The questions I asked myself were about what kind of images I felt passionate about creating, what I wanted to accomplish, and what direction to go. The result of this thought process was the creation of my ‘Artist’s Statement’ which is now posted on my web site and which I include here.
My path as a photographic artist has been defined by three influences: my origins in a family of artists, from whom I draw my aesthetic sense; my passion for adventure and exploration in the wilderness of British Columbia, discovering with every foray into the back country more about who I am; and an equally passionate drive to share with others the beauty I find there and the truth it leads me to.
One of my great mentors, John O’Donohue wrote:
‘When the soul is alive to beauty we begin to see life in a fresh and vital way.’With a vitality for life, and a remembrance of the sacred in beauty, photography is my way of inspiring an ethic of respect for the generous Planet that is our sustenance, and our first beauty.
Hauling my camera gear has always been worth the extra effort. Live life with passion.
CONTENTS
- The Volcanic Itcha Mountains – Part III: The Search for Beauty
- The Volcanic Rainbow Mountains – Part II: The Search for Beauty
- Upcoming Appearances
1. The Volcanic Itcha Mountains – Part III.
The Search for BeautyThe following story and three images epitomize my never ending ‘search for beauty’.
Hiking over Misery Pass in a white-out
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds MarkIII and 24-105mm IS lens shot at 28mm. Primary thoughts & considerations: fast enough shutter speed to keep hikers sharp; depth of focus was not so important as there was little detail beyond the hikers. Handheld, shutter speed of 1/400th, f-11. Considering I was hiking and hand-holding my camera I used ISO 400. Continuing on from the Itcha Mountain adventure stories of Newsletters 48 & 49, we headed over Misery Pass in a white-out (what else could we expect!), looking for a route to Lunch Lake Valley below Mt. Downton.
Map & Compass – Searching for Beauty!
© Rita Giesbrecht
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds MarkIII and 24-105mm IS lens shot at 28mm. Primary thoughts & considerations were the same as above. Handheld, shutter speed of 1/400th, f-11, iso 400. In order to share the story of our day’s journey, I gave Rita my camera. Using map and compass, I was setting a new course after hiking through the pass. I guess this image says I’m old-fashioned – no, I don’t own or use a GPS!
Volcanic Beauty at Lunch Lake
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds MarkIII , 24-105mm IS lens shot at 27mm. Primary thoughts & considerations: depth of focus was most important and shutter speed was irrelevant due to using a tripod. Shutter speed 1/10th sec., f-22, ISO 100. Although this particular day’s ‘search for beauty’ was spent mostly in rain and fog, the reward was miraculous. Our supper was enjoyed under a small tarp with the music of pitter-patter, but soon after, the weather began to break.
With camera and tripod in hand, I optimistically headed out before the sun was to disappear behind the mountains. Then came the magic light I dream about. The beauty of this volcanic landscape revealed itself in coloured splendour. Through images like this, I hope to bring a new and fresh appreciation, not only for our Planet we live on, but more particularly, for the Cariboo-Chilcotin, the region we live in here in British Columbia.
2. The Volcanic Rainbow Mountains – Part II
The Search for Beauty
Mike stops to Appreciate Extraordinary Beauty
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds MarkIII and 24-105mm IS lens shot at 47mm. Primary consideration was enough depth of field to make everything in focus and keep Mike sharp. Handheld at 1/400th sec., f14 at ISO 320. |
Once again, continuing on from Newsletter #49, Rita, Mike and I set out in search of the beauty within the volcanic Rainbow Mountains. I remember this day well. Usually when surrounded by such a spectacular setting, my energy level soars, but on this day the temperature rose to over 35°C. and we had only a litre of water each. This huge bowl of volcanic rock was a heat trap and, after photographing all day, I returned to camp exhausted.
Beauty in Abstract
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds MarkIII with 70-200mm IS lens shot at 200mm. Primary thoughts & considerations: Especially when shooting abstracts, I often see abstract patterns within the picture space I see through my viewfinder. So I photograph the larger space but make a mental (or written if time or location permits) note to crop for the smaller abstraction when I process the image at home. This is the smaller or cropped portion of the entire image that originally drew my attention. In this case I had to hand-hold the camera so I shot at 1/2000th sec. (could have been slower) and because the slope I was shooting into was steep, I was able to use an aperture of only f8. This would give me ample depth of focus and the best optical quality for this lens. Optical sharpness is usually obtained at about 2-3 f-stops smaller that the lens’ largest aperture – in this case f2.8. I feel that if we learn to see, recognize and appreciate Beauty, we will value it and be greater prepared to speak out for the preservation of that beauty. That which is beautiful has spiritual value to each and every one of us, and it is far greater than any short term economic value.
Beauty is found not only in the land but in animals and humans as well. All together and in harmony with each other, we can live a beautiful life on a beautiful Planet.
The search for Beauty and the sharing of Beauty is what I am passionate about and what I have been doing most of my life as both a guide and a photographer. During the past two years I have searched for beauty within the volcanic landscape of central British Columbia.
In my upcoming book to be published next October on the volcanoes of the Cariboo-Chilcotin, I will attempt to share that beauty, along with scientific knowledge, with you.
To work on such projects is both an honour and a privilege.
3. Upcoming Appearances:Slide Presentations:
Langley
Presentation: Paddling Solo: Based on Chris’ book The Bowron Lakes: A Lifetime Journey
When:: November 25th, 7:30pm
Where: Fort Langley Community Hall
Sponsor: The Langley Camera Club
Tickets: Free – everyone welcome
Contact: For any questions contact Denis Ducklow at dennis_d@shaw.caLillooet
Presentation: Spirit in the Grass: The Cariboo-Chilcotin’s Forgotten Landscape
When:: Nov. 26th, 7:00pm
Where: Lillooet Rec. Centre
Sponsor: The Lillooet Naturalist Society
Tickets: $10 Everyone is welcomeChristmas Artisan Fairs:
Art & Craft Fair: Studio Fair, 2009
When: November 6-8, 2009
Where: Prince George Civic Centre
Information: Chris will have a booth at the fair with his books and fine art photographic prints. Please drop by.Art & Craft Fair: South Cariboo Winter Arts & Crafts Fair 2009
When: November 6-7, 2009
Where: 100 Mile House Junior Secondary School
Information: Chris will have a booth at the fair with his books and fine art photographic prints. Please drop by.Art &Craft Fair: The Medieval Market, 2009
When: November 21-22, 2009
Where: Columneetza Secondary School, Williams Lake
Information: Chris will have a booth at the fair with his books and fine art photographic prints. Please drop by.Get notified when a new newsletter appears on this site