Forest Randomness
I will admit much of the time I spend in the field is simply looking at things. All sorts of things, even if it is just the ground. Part of it out of a natural curiosity of what there is to see, the other part trying to make some sort of order out of chaos to fit into a photographic composition. Simplicity is something to strive for in photographic compositions right?
Another part of me wants to let random things be random, to let chaos exist and roam free. But visual chaos can be unnerving. Random areas of contrast or sharpness can do a number on our perception – a visual stressor of sorts. If an image just doesn’t “feel right” – there is a good chance some of these elements are in play.
So if I do find myself attracted to some seemingly random pattern, I find there are some ways to lessen the visual stressors:
- Even, soft lighting helps bring your attention to the details and textures vs. your eyes jumping randomly about the frame to high contrast points
- Color harmonies or tonality – I liked the variety of warm earth tones in this particular image, highly varied, but nothing stands out to pull your attention one way or another. Attention to this in development of the photograph helps.
- a dominant shape, even if just part of the overall pattern still helps serve as a visual anchor, without necessarily being a singular subject
I suppose I am naturally drawn towards introspective type of imagery. Even if the study falls short on some viewers, some I hope will embrace the concept, swirl it around a bit, and sample the flavors like a fine single malt Scotch.
What a beautiful shot! I love your idea of “visual chaos.” Its definitely true that there needs to be a balance between the chaos and the patterns found in nature. Really great tips on how to fine that balance and capture these beautiful patterns with out the visual “noise.”
Thank you Ada.
Beautiful photo as always. It’s compositional qualities and tonal balance makes me think that had I seen this photo independently of your blog I would still have picked it out as one of yours (at least I certainly hope so if the watermark was there but I’m saying even without it 😉 ). I agree with the things Howard, Brooks and Monte have already said and I will add that for me, as I get older, the chaos of the city which I used to cherish so much is losing its appeal. These days I prefer the chaos of nature and at the risk of sounding sappy, I would say that this may well be because nature feels more poetic than chaotic. Much like your photos Mark.
Thanks so much Cedric. Actually, I have never posted this image before this post, but I do have similar ones.
Somehow I don’t think city planners incorporate much feng shui into their plans. But I do know designing for more green spaces seems to be taking hold lately, that can only be a good thing.
I’m drawn to this image due to the colors and tone. It has a real feel of late fall and is pleasing to my eyes. Yes, chaos is abundant in nature but it is not the same chaos of our busy cities or work cubicles. The chaos of nature has the capacity to heal, soothe and calm my soul. As I get along in years I find less need to find order, or attempt to create it, but to accept it. I suppose we can define chaos differently. Love the image!
A little interesting thing I have noticed about my own reactions to nature is with flowing water. A stream outside or ocean waves have a certain rhythm to them that can be relaxing. But take that water and put it in an indoor fountain, a fish tank, or something similar – and it grates on my nerves. There you have it, a little sidebar. 🙂
That is very true. I also have noticed how we landscape in patterns and balance when nature just let’s it flow. 🙂
Heaven forbid anyone have an unkempt yard! 🙂
Some do not believe in randomness. ..what seems random is only so because we simply don’t understand the higher forces at work. The human mind does seem to be more comfortable when it can find a pattern, make some sense, out of seemingly random things. When looking at this lovely photo I find myself subconsciously searching for patterns and commonality, but there’s also a part of me which enjoys the mystery of the unknown.
Indeed. That’s why I stare at things for awhile, seeing if I can figure out some hidden clue that is probably there, just not to readily seen. All well above my capabilities of understanding it all.
Then the analytical side starts to ask questions… How much randomness is too much? Do we each have our own personal limits on how long we can absorb what we are seeing? Am I causing do much bias myself because I have had this scene in front of my camera and on the computer for so many hours?
I enjoy this image quite a bit. And though there is quite a bit of randomness, for me there still is a dominant or central subject…..the larger, brighter, snow covered leaf to the left of center. Though I find myself wondering if our brains simply ‘want there to be’ a more dominant subject and so we make one. Is that leaf dominant just to me and someone else might pick out an entirely different primary subject? Or is the photographer gently leading us through the image to ponder a bit before settling on that leaf because his skills as a processor subtly allow us to explore before being moved to the slightly brighter, more colorful, and snow covered leaf? Or is it possible he didn’t even know he was doing that….that it just came as a natural feel because it ‘looks right’. Either way it all falls together beautifully!
Well he rarely truly knows what he is doing, but what you say sounds good, so let’s go with that. ?
Well then, the force must be with him!