View On Black
This is a new series in which I am experimenting with concepts, concepts on aesthetics and subjects of aesthetics. All along this series I will still be posting my regular long exposures of seascapes and landscapes.
I have asked myself lately why am I using certain objects to create a photo that can be regarded by many as being beautiful? Why should these objects always be something that is being regarded as beautiful like flowers, a majestic mountain or lake, a beautiful woman or a sunset, or something that is neutral such as a pier, a fence or a bench that given the right circumstances and composition can be made beautiful? Why can't we use objects that are considered ugly in general to create aesthetically beautiful photos? Is it impossible?
It definitely is harder but not impossible. People in general regard a photo in which an ugly object is being depicted like a powerstation for example, as strange. A few months ago for example I posted a photo in which a trashcan was depicted as one of the main objects and it was being judged as strange by the viewers, although the subject, which was a sunset, was beautiful.
World famous photographer Michael Kenna is one of the best B&W photographers at this moment. He is also well known of a series of photos in which the subject was a powerstation:
www.michaelkenna.net/html/rcliff03/index.html. It is one of the strangest series of photos I have ever seen but also one of the most beautiful series. From all the great work he has done such like beautiful seascapes, trees and architecture, that particular series is the most iconic to me.
I'm absolutely not pretending I can equal his level of work but just wanted to make a statement with my Michael Kenna inspired series of powerstations: although an object is considered as strange or ugly, one should not be distracted by the object itself to judge about the aesthetical qualities of a photo or any piece of art.
So here's part 1 of my long exposure series on powerstations and other 'ugly' and strange objects. For all my contacts that may be disappointed in my latest work: I will post a regular shot later today ;)
Technical info:
10 stops ND filter
Polarization Filter - 2 stops
f/22
ISO100
241s (4min1s) exposure
Software:
Lightroom 2.0
PS CS3 - Silver Efex Pro - Selenium toning
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
