Outdoor Photography

February 2018 Outdoor Photography 1

The extra mile and a half

In a world where there seems to be

an inexhaustible supply of impactful

images, I’ve been chewing over what

it is that can help an image stand out

from the masses. What exactly does it

take to create a masterful photograph

that resonates with viewers for longer

than an initial ‘wow’? I think it can be

summed up in one word: effort.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not

suggesting for one minute that there

isn’t any effort going into the creation

of those mainstream images that

fill our online social world, because

I know for sure that there is plenty.

What I am sensing more and more is

that the generally accepted level of

effort needed is no longer enough to

result in extraordinary images. It’s not

a catastrophe, because reasonable

effort is producing countless beautiful

images, but it is frustrating that so

many photographers are getting

extremely close to making something

extraordinary but fall just short.

If we analyse what it takes to capture

an outdoor genre image then it’s easy

to see that lots of effort is involved.

There’s all the pre-planning; the early

morning rise; the long drive in the

dark to a location; a significant hike

into the wilderness carrying a fairly

substantial load; and the physical

endurance and creative energy that

is needed once we get there. Outdoor

photographers must qualify as some

of the most committed shooters on

the planet! So where does it go wrong

when it comes to creating standout

work? My view is that we often invest

so much into just getting to a position

where we are ready to take an image

that somehow we feel that this is, in

itself, enough to result in something

outstanding; we switch off at the

crucial moment. All that goes before

the moment we press the shutter

release is wasted if we don’t maintain

the energy and focus to go the extra

mile and a half to scout and compose

to the very best of our ability. When

we get to the location, no matter how

long or hard the journey, that’s when

our real efforts need

to start. It’s at that

point that we need

to unleash our entire

creative potential.

Steve Watkins

THE ISSUE

at a glance

We talk with Australian landscape

master Christian Fletcher – page 16

Lee Frost guides us through taking

black & white landscapes – page 28

Niall Benvie explores a diff erent genre

and discovers new skills – page 58

See the results of our ‘Lakes and

Rivers’ photo competition – page 104

Christ ian Fletcher took this st unning

aerial image of a dune in Namibia.

GET IN TOUCH

Email Contact the Editor, Steve Watkins, at st [email protected]

or Deputy Editor, Chris Gatcum, at [email protected]

Write to us Outdoor Photography, 86 High Street, Lewes,

East Sussex BN7 1XN

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ON THE COVER

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