PhotoClass2017 : Assignment 02
This post forms part of my PhotoClass2017 series.
This assignment asked us to identify a professional photographer, and consider a handful of their images, then deeply analyse one.
I love landscapes, and so spent a bit of time looking at a bunch of photographers, until I came across Max Rive.
Take a look at this selection of photos from Max. I believe they are composite images, but there’s limited detail about his techniques that I was able to find, so aren’t entirely sure.
The thing really appeals to me is his incredible level of detail, from both close up all the way to the outer reaches of the image. The photo I’m going to discuss however is this one:
Like his other photos, there is an incredible amount of detail here. Every time I look at this image, I find that my eye follows the same path. First the mountain peak on the horizon, then down the ridge to the grass. But rather than rest there, it then goes onto the sheep, and I find myself getting really close and exploring sheep to sheep, then across to the lakes. There is just so much detail to explore. The incredible sharpness is certainly a large part of this, as these elements are not simply part of the background or foreground, but rather features in their own right. That’s in keeping with his other images too, where the obvious point of interest fades as you explore more and more deeply.
What emotion does this evoke in me? Quite simply tranquillity with an edge of eager anticipation for the coming storm. I imaging a shepherd out of frame, getting ready to gather the sheep, and head home, where he will enjoy the drumming of rain on his roof with a warm fire keeping the cottage toasty.
I would love to find other landscape photographers with the same style, so please send me a message if you know of any.