One thing that has been on my to-do list for ages has been to photograph more of the Clinton River here in Southeast Michigan during winter. The amount of progress I made in furthering that goal this season: ZERO. I could probably make up a hundred excuses of why, all of which would be completely boring to read about.
However, like the previous image I wrote about on sticky snow, I also came across this image in my archives made the same day. It is an image I developed previously but left in color. I always liked the stillness of the snow covered trees contrasted with the flowing river. However, water of the river was mostly brown, and being in color really didn’t contribute much to the photograph. Just as snow is a great simplifier for otherwise messy woodlands, monochrome is a simplifier for where color doesn’t add much interest.
As I think about it, using “simplifiers” – whether environmental or developmental, is quite key when it comes to photographs. Our brains naturally do not like too many competing elements. It leads to a visual tension/confusion of sorts if our eyes are darting around at too many points of contrast or competing colors. We crave simplicity, but if it takes too much work to understand, or doesn’t entertain for very long – we naturally want to move on to something more pleasing.
Revisiting this particular photograph helped me realize it was in need of that extra simplification nature couldn’t provide on its own.
Well, I guess that zero progress is better than negative progress. I like how this image turned out! Keeping it simple is something I’m integrating into my life more as well as my photography. Have a great Sunday!
Funny, you got me thinking about what would be negative progress for such a situation – maybe falling in the river? Haha. Best to you Monte, thanks for stopping by.
The smoothness of the river contrast well with the subdued details of the trees covered in snow. A kind of image I can lose myself in for a while. 🙂
Hopefully a scene you are not too familiar with in your neck of the woods!
I’ve always enjoyed winter pictures in black and white. The snow also helps to simplify the scene as well as making it black and white. I like how the image makes you feel as if you are right in the water. We have a good deal of muddy rivers here too. Black and white helps that too!
Me too. The muddy river with the snowy forest just didn’t sit right with me. I guess I kinda forgot about it for a long time.