monochrome | alan frost photography

Landscape photographs or holiday snaps? ….. images from County Kerry, Ireland

My wife and I have recently returned from a two week holiday in County Kerry which lies in the South Western corner of Ireland. A beautiful part of the world offering many photographic opportunities.

Having downloaded the files I have started the enjoyable process of selecting what I consider to be the most promising and pleasing images and editing them in my usual style. Inevitably this part of the workflow brings back happy memories of places visited and associated experiences. It is of course one of the reasons we take photographs. We want to preserve these memories for the future.

Back in the day all those of a certain age (me included!) will probably recall getting together so that either a slide show or the handing round of prints could take place after a family holiday. There would be very little culling , meaning all the photographs would be shared however good or bad. The quality would be variable. Over and under exposed pictures combined with a mix of reasonable but sometimes very poor compositions. Every photograph would be vocally described – where and when it was taken and what the weather was like, even though this would often be clearly evident from the photo itself! Sad to say but it could turn in to a ‘yawn fest’ yet it was part of the post holiday ritual which had to be undertaken and endured.

Whilst sitting at my computer selecting and processing some images a question entered my mind –

“When is an image a landscape photograph and no longer just a holiday snap?”

Time and technological progress has of course changed how we record our holidays. For many years now we have lived in a digital age with increasingly sophisticated cameras built-in to our smartphones. Almost everyone has the ability to use filters and intuitive processing software to produce a decent image. It is then shared not just to friends and family, but to the world and his wife via social media.

As I share with you the photographs I took on my recent trip to Ireland I am asking myself…… “Is this just today’s equivalent of the slide show projected onto a screen in a darkened room to family and friends? Are these pictures merely holiday snaps or is there something which sets them apart? No longer just a record shot but something visually appealing and possibly of interest to a wider audience”.

And if so, what distinguishes an ordinary picture taken on holiday from a landscape photograph which just happens to have been made whilst travelling away from home?

These are my thoughts which may or may not coincide with your own ideas.

1. I think every image should be viewed as an individual photograph, irrespective of whether or not it was taken on holiday and regardless of the camera or equipment used. An expensive state of the art camera doesn’t necessarily make a fine image. In other words a picture has to be worthy of standing on its own two feet.

2. The photograph must have something which causes the viewer to stop, look and appreciate the landscape for what it represents. Perhaps there is some form of narrative or an element of mystery which intrigues the viewer. It shouldn’t be seen as a record shot. Plus I would suggest that the image should clearly demonstrate photographic intent.

3. Perhaps the prime distinction is that the photograph is one which an individual may wish to have printed, framed and displayed on a wall in their home. This would be regardless of whether or not they had visited that particular location for themselves. I very much doubt a holiday snap would warrant this treatment by a complete stranger.

4. And lastly if it’s a collection of images then the quality and presentation should be harmonious, consistent and of a certain standard. Arguably it should possess some photographic expertise and not be classified as a ‘point and shoot’ picture.

Hopefully you won’t consider these photographs to be merely holiday snaps, but images which can be appreciated for what they are. I would be disappointed to think they might be thought of as today’s equivalent of the family slide show of yesteryear.

If you have any thoughts on the difference between a landscape photograph and a holiday snap do comment below – I would be interested in your thoughts.

Capturing the light ….. nothing more, nothing less

It’s quite rare that I only include a single image in a post.

My photographs are often defined by location or subject.

In this particular case these points are of no interest to me.

This image is all about the light and it’s polar opposite – the dark.

When I saw how the low penetrating sunlight pierced through the grasses and lit the paling fence, I just knew it was a photograph crying out to be made ….. so I did.

Nothing more and nothing less ….. just capturing the light ….. in black and white.

Driving through time at the Haynes Motor Museum

When photographing any subject it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of framing the picture to capture the whole thing. Nothing is omitted and a ‘bumper to bumper’ picture of a car can in truth be nothing more than a record shot. From a purely visual point of view the composition ends up being far too busy. Add a distracting background can only add to the confusion. This is particularly true in a museum where the four wheeled exhibits are displayed in close proximity to one another. There is little or no separation and the resultant photograph is almost invariably a disappointment. In a phrase it lacks viewer engagement.

Abstraction and knowing what to leave out, can I believe make for a much more interesting and pleasing image.

I recently made a second visit to the Haynes Motor Museum in Somerset, England. My photographic intentions were very clear.

I set out with the specific aim of making photographs which told a story and would in my view capture the essence of both the place and the wide range of cars on display. I wanted to make positive use of the artificial lighting. To work with what could be distracting sources of light and reflections. To embrace out of focus areas, to enhance the image, and adding a further layer of interest whenever possible.

I thoroughly enjoyed combining two of my passions in life – motor cars and photography. There are a huge variety of cars at the museum spanning all eras. With my camera and a selection of lenses I experimented with various settings in the hope of making some interesting black and white compositions.

You can be the judge of whether or not my approach was successful.

Am I a petrolhead? … capturing the spirit of the 82nd Goodwood Members Meeting

The answer to the question is quite definitely yes. Ever since I was a young boy back in the 60’s I have had a passion for cars. From playing with Corgi toy cars on the carpet, to looking forward to the next monthly car magazine. When I reached the age of 17 I couldn’t wait to pass my driving test and then having my own car. I have very little engineering or mechanical knowledge and I greatly admire those that can service and bring a set of four wheels back to life but all cars both old and new appeal to me, more so when their engines come to life and to see them on a motor circuit.

A couple of weeks ago I attended the 82nd Members Meeting at Goodwood. The Festival Speed and The Revival Meeting are world famous events and I have been very fortunate to attend many of these meetings over the years years, however the Members Meeting is a smaller event by comparison. As well as fewer people there is full access to the paddock and sections of the track which are ordinarily out of bounds.

The range of machinery both on display and racing very competitively is quite extraordinary. Enthusiastic spectators watch great car control as they speed around the fast and challenging historic Goodwood circuit. From Edwardian cars in The S.F Edge Trophy to a shoot out of GT3 cars which were raced between 2006 and 2012. There is something for everyone.

Some cars from various eras are truly works of art only to become museum pieces or stored in an air conditioned garages as the owner watches their capital value increase over the years.

Goodwood doesn’t reflect this aspect of car ownership. Cars worth many hundreds of thousands of pounds are raced nose to tail by very skilled drivers. In other words they are still being used for their original purpose and long may this be the case. I am very aware we are entering a time of electrification in the car industry but it would be sad day if these celebrations of automotive history came to an end.

From a photographic point of view there is so much to see. Here are just a selection of images which I like to think capture the feel and atmosphere of the weekend.

*Sunday 7.45am – Start/Finish straight before the day’s racing begins*

*No need to be reminded where these photographs were taken*

*Detail of a vintage Bentley badge and radiator grill*

*The Arundell Cup winners’ garland – the 1962 Cooper-Ford* *T59*

For more information and a video about the Porsche 997 at the Members Meeting – click here.

*John Player Special Lotus 97T Formula One car which was driven by the late great Ayrton Senna*

*Gordon Murray Automotive T.50s Niki Lauda*

*The Gordon Murray Automotive commissioned Cosworth 3,994cc* *V12 engine for the T. 50s which red lines at an astonishing 12,100 rpm.*

For more information about Gordon Murray Automotive – click here.

*Waiting for the race to start – the S.F Edge Trophy for Edwardian cars*

*Porsche GT3 R Hybrid from the Intelligence Performance division*

*3.5 litre Jaguar XK120 roadster from 1954*

Click here for more information about the background to the above car.

*Often seen racing at Goodwood the Aston Martin DB4GT ‘lightweight’ driven by four-time Indycar Champion Dario Franchitt*i

Below are links to some other events I have photographed at Goodwood in previous years.

Bugatti Type 35 at the 81st Goodwood Members Meeting

Car details in mono at The Goodwood Revival

Goodwood Revival – the cars and the people

The Silver Arrows at the Goodwood Revival Meeting

Not being hamstrung at Hamworthy ….. having fun for the sake of it

Sometimes I get hamstrung by the type of images I think I should be making. I am very aware that it can be limiting just to photograph my preferred subjects or feel I should only be working on the various photo projects I have underway. As a consequence the pure fun of just being out and about and capturing what I see, irrespective of genre or purpose, is rather liberating. Without the constraints of needing to fulfill a particular brief or objective, I am instantly reminded of why this is such a wonderful and enjoyable creative hobby.

This selection of six images were all shot last week at Hamworthy in Poole on the Dorset coast. The sun and blue skies made a rare winter appearance and I simply took the opportunity of making a few images of scenes that appealed to me.

The strong light and subject matter were arguably outside my usual comfort zone. The pictures don’t form part of an ongoing project. They are purely black and white images captured and made for the pleasure of doing so.

I was having fun and isn’t that what really matters?