Newsletter No. 74: September 2011

© Chris Harris. All rights reserved.

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CONTENTS

Aerial Photography: From a
plane, there are unfamiliar perspectives and exciting
discoveries.

Just Respond: Who Cares What
You are Photographing.

Braids of a River: A metaphor
for life’s journey.

1. Aerial Photography: From a plane,
there are unfamiliar perspectives and exciting discoveries.

Before I take off on an aerial shoot to a specific area,
I try to anticipate and visualize what photographic opportunities
I may encounter, and then think through how I might photograph
those opportunities. Should I use a long lens or a wide angle
lens; should I pan, zoom or make an aerial panorama; should
I include the plane’s wing; and so on. These decisions are
often based on whether the subject is best suited for a proposed
book or fine art print, a slide show, or for stock. The possibilities
are endless, so I must be open minded and ready to react
to whatever I am gifted with. As a result, I hardly talk
to my pilot. I just concentrate on all these scenarios and
look for opportunities as acutely as possible.

Churn Creek empties into the Fraser River

Paddling over
a forest? Where is this?

© Chris Harris

Photographer’s
Notes: Compositionally, I would usually have
placed the canoe lower within the picture space, but
to have done so, I would have included shoreline and
thus eliminated the mystery. I went for the mystery.
Canon EOS 50D, iso 800; f-7.1; 1/800 sec; 70-200mm
lens;

When I first saw the lake above, I saw it as a small, shallow,
ugly-looking lake. Then I spotted a canoe, and then its shadow
below. In that split second it all seemed very mysterious,
intriguing, and unusual. I had time to make this single image.

Back in the darkroom, I now have time to study the image.
I love the mystery. What is it? It looks like water has flooded
over a landscape of forest and small lakes. Now, two paddlers
are canoeing just over the tops of that forest and those small
lakes. Amazing.

It was another example of discovering unfamiliar
perspectives and unexpected subjects from an aerial viewpoint.
I find aerial photography exciting; the discovery of new subjects
from unusual perspectives is endless.

2. Just Respond: Who Cares What You
are Photographing.

When flying over the South Cariboo there are vast areas
of small swampy lakes, marshlands, and burnt forests. This
is not the Coast Mountains or the beautifully coloured shield
volcanoes of the west Chilcotin. I was thinking the landscape
was quite unattractive actually, and I had a tendency to
just look out the open window with my camera on my lap, waiting
for something better. What can I possibly photograph
out there, I was asking myself?

Guess who at work!

Not sure what
it is!

Photographer’s Notes: The
two images in this visual story are studies in visual
design. Examine the lines and shapes, the tonal and colour
contrast, and the texture. Decide if these images appeal
to you or not, and why. Nikon D700, iso 800; f-8; 1/800
sec; 28-300mm lens;

The secret for me is to take away the labels.
If I look only for shapes, lines, textures, and colours,
and ignore swamps, marshes and burnt trees, I suddenly
see that the landscape takes on a new look, one full of
photographic possibilities.

And what is this?

And what
is this?

Photographer’s
Notes: As above. Nikon D700, iso 800; f-8;
1/800 sec; 28-300mm lens.

On this particular flight my mindset went from Gee,
I’m wasting my time here to wow, this
is amazing. In
the above two images the composition is comprised of tonal
contrast (blacks to white), colour contrast (yellows, greens,
browns), considerable texture, and a variety of lines and
shapes. Unknown subjects but exciting photography! The lesson
is to forget the labels and respond to one’s inner self.

3. Braids of a River: A metaphor
for life’s journey.

The Law of Change

The Law of
Change

Photographer’s Notes: At
a superficial level, this image is about a single diagonal
line and two triangular shapes on either side. On another
level, you can stare at this image for hours, contemplating
one’s own journey through life. Canon EOS-50D; iso 400;
f-11; 1/640 sec; 100-400mm lens;

There is a law that has a constant and dramatic
effect in our life, and that law is the law of change.
The law of change states that everything is in the process
of becoming something else.

Compositionally, this is a
simple image; one line and two triangular shapes. But when
I look at this photograph, I enter a different state of
mind. I can’t help but study the old braids of this river,
and wonder about its past. I also can’t help but think
about my own journey through life.

Much like a human portrait,
the image is a snapshot in time, but it speaks to us about
change over many years.

Braids of a River - Journeys of a Human Life

Braids of
a River – Journeys of a Human Life

Braids of a River
- Journeys of a Human Life

Braids of a River
– Journeys of a Human Life

Change happens everywhere and with everyone, and
happens constantly.

Looking deeply in to these images is
for me a contemplative exercise; they could lead me to write
an essay or a journal entry, an artist’s statement or business
plan.

Tell a Friend!

You already know that the Chris Harris Newsletter is
a great way to learn more about photography and the
creative process, and explore the vast reaches of central
British Columbia.

You may not know that this newsletter is one of the
means by which we at The Chris Harris Gallery and Country
Light Publishing reach the local and international
audience that we depend on for our livelihood, and
to keep our business going.

If you think this is a worthwhile endeavour, we appreciate
your support and participation, simply by passing this
on.

In addition to this newsletter, check out the Chilcotin
Ark and Cariboochilcotinflyover websites which are the two new books Chris is working on.
Follow the adventure!

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