VN #042: Volcanoes & Autumn Colours
Posted September 22, 2024
Volcanoes & Autumn Colours
When photographing for my book Motherstone, one of my self-assignments was to photograph the volcanic landscape from the air. Mostly, I had the stunning shapes of volcanic cones and craters in mind, however, it was the colourful patterns and textures of vegetation that captivated my attention and remain strongly embedded in my mind.
Below are a few images I made while flying over the shield volcanoes of the west Chilcotin; the Itcha, Ilgatchuz, and Rainbow volcanoes.
Surrounding Mt. Fukawi was the higher elevation red buckbrush and the lush greens and yellows of the valley bottoms.
Like a topographical map, I saw contours of colour
As basalt erodes and moves slowly downwards toward the valley bottoms, vegetational colour and texture push upwards in search of mineral nutrients.
Responding to moisture in tiny drainage systems, the colour yellow defies gravity.
While seeking to unite, yellow and green are separated from red by an elevational difference.
A compositional study of topography, soil nutrition, and water.
While photographing from the air, there is little time to enjoy the beauty and complexities of the natural world below; and barely time to recognize compositional studies based on the elements of art.
Only now, with more time to enjoy these compositions, do I value and relish the art of photography as much as I do.
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