I’d like to think that if Eliot Porter was still around, he would be an interesting guy to go photographing within the woods of Michigan because of his renowned ability to see intimate landscape photos. In contrast to the grand scenics of the West, where large features seemingly tie together the landscape as a whole, many parts of Michigan require a much closer study. Of course, Michigan has those grand scenics also, the best freshwater shorelines in the world. And according to some polls, we have the best Autumn colors. From where I live near Detroit, it just involves a bit more planning to reach them vs. a spontaneous decision to go out photographing today.
How to find intimate landscape photos
So, many times when I am out, I am looking at smaller scenes. A two-fold benefit really, forest bathing is all the rage today for improved mental and physical health. These intimate landscape photographs require a bit more work. I wander the woodlands near me seeking something to hit me with inspiration. I wish it was like having someone slap you with a fish in the face, alas the inspiration comes on more subtly. I would settle for a miniature Porter on my shoulder giving me advice.
I read with interest Porter’s collaboration work with James Gleick, a well-known author for his work on Chaos Theory among many others. Porter wrote this in their collaborative book, Nature’s Chaos :
“Although subjects such as mosses, lichens, or leaves that have just fallen are not orderly at all, when viewed as detailed sections, they become orderly. This process suggests a tension between order and chaos. When I photograph, I see the arrangement that looks orderly, but when you consider the subjects as a whole or on a larger scale, they appear disorderly. Only fragments of the whole is nature’s order apparent.”
These detailed sections are the intimate landscapes Porter is so well known for. It appears to take the right frame of mind though. Often when I look closer at the chaos – I just see smaller bits of chaos! 🙂 It takes just that right bit of wandering, that right frame of mind for something to just jump out and speak to you. I suppose that is what happened here with these cedar tree roots.
It’s a small area of old-growth cedars and white pines I return to year after year. It looks and feels much like a small temple really, at least to me it does. Perhaps that is the headspace we need to find, no matter where we are wandering, to find bits of order. It wouldn’t hurt to have Eliot with a fish in my case.
Lovely image, rooted in your vision of the woods. Porter had a talent for editing down forest scenes to a few essential elements, but he was also successful at creating densely complex views of the woods. Not chaotic images, but images bursting with many elements – hard to do successfully.
I very much agree on Porter’s talent for picking out those special scenes. His work is a big onspiration for me. Thanks Tom!
I’m glad I came back here, what a timely post. I loved Eliot Porter as soon as I first became aware of him, so many years ago. The idea of walking in the woods with him is very appealing – especially having him perched on my shoulder, making random comments. 🙂 The discussion about chaos is interesting, too. There’s so much chaos here in the Pacific Northwest landscape. I struggle with it, but it’s a good challenge to get your teeth into, I think. Your Red cedar photo is just beautiful – cedars have such great, flowing lines, and you took advantage of that.
Thank you for your comments Lynn. With your mention of the Pacific Northwest chaos, I wonder if our own familiarity with details of a place lends itself to seeing something in a more chaotic way vs. from afar.
I don’t know. I think there’s at least some objectivity in the observation about the Pacific northwest – at least the forests – having a chaotic feel. Certainly compared to desert places it’s more complex. If you’re thinking about being more aware of the chaos because you begin to see more and more, as you spend time in a place, that does make sense.
Mark, I don’t know I see your work and skill as making order out of chaos as much as finding, accepting and presenting the beauty of the chaos itself. Many would walk by without noticing those things you see. Your gift of capturing and presenting in images your own vision allows us the viewer to then have our own experiences, to almost be there…and glad am I for that! 🙂
Well it’s nice to hear some things connect with people other than myself – so thanks for that Earl. I’d like to think that even those chaotic scenes on some level have order. It just might take the right frame of mind, maybe even the ecological knowledge to see it. And as you say, why not just appreciate the chaotic scenes for what they are.
So many of your abstract photographs suggest “a tension between order and chaos” and I would measure it in levels of intensity. Mostly high levels. That’s a good thing by the way. As Howard suggests, these types of photos that you are so good at, are inspired and therefore, inspirational. Truly.
The talk about order and chaos, along with your autumnal photograph, reminded me of a time I was sitting on a park bench, looking at a leaf on a tree, noticing how still the air was. My thoughts disconnected for a while and in my mind’s eye I “saw” where the leaf connected to the branch down to what seemed a macro level. It was like looking at the actual process by which the leaf would disconnect. And then it happened (by coincidence no doubt), the leaf fell, ever so silently in the perfectly still air. I followed it down to the grass where once again, I “saw” the slow process of decomposition start. Energy changing form. At that very moment, I got the strongest sensation that chaos and order were simply two sides of a coin.
It might sound like a “well duh” moment now, but it felt rather intense at the time. Which is what I mean when I say that your photos have a certain intensity about them. They are enlightening.
I suppose on a subconscious level, that comes through just trying to make sense of things, and if they have any sort of visual appeal to me. I wish I could say I it was a calculated effort. 🙂 Your experience on the bench is just that hyper-awareness that I wish I could bottle up. I’d drink it down often and become inebriated if I could on it, maybe even sell a bottle or two. Many refer to it as being in a zone, or having their mojo, I guess I just call it being present. Truly present. The problem is, I wish I knew what triggered it. More to meditate on I suppose. As always, thanks for the kind words my friend down under. 🙂
I think being able to see the order out of chaos is a true skill. Your images show that for sure. I actually find images like this more creative and inspirational than the grand landscape.
Well I’m sure you have experience the same – for every photo we think works, there are 100 behind it that didn’t.
Ain’t that the truth!