Galapagos Landscape
Of all the pics I took in the Galapagos when I was there in late June, early July, this might seem an odd choice for the first to post to my blog. Amid the close-ups of marine and land iguanas, turtles, blue-footed boobies, albatross and more, here is a pic with no wildlife present. Nor are there seemingly just-stopped lava flows or water-filled craters or cactus blooming out of a pavement of lava.
What grabbed my attention in this pic is the background where the leafless palo-santo trees co-mingle with actual greenery: plants that have the chutzpah to show green leaves in the midst of the dry season.
I also like how the telephoto setting on the lens brings all the elements closer together. The foreground where I'm standing, the water, the cliffs and the trees in the back all feel intimate, emphasizing the truth of the interconnectedness of things.
I think I might be trying to protect the wildlife by not exposing it, at least for the moment. For me to look at this dry landscape and know that the water and its edges support such a diverse and rich wildlife population is more evocative than "catching" a bird in my lens, who posed as if she were sitting at Sears.
Comments
3 comments postedShai,
Your comment on my post – your thoughts on the artificiality of a distant, “objective” perspective in writing – shows up here with regard to photography.
I remember reading a book on Bonnard in which the author links Bonnard’s love for photography with his love for Japanese painting, pointing out that photography and Japanese art tend to flatten distance. I think I’ve heard that, for all of our technology, it is difficult for us to capture what some audiophiles refer to as a kind of pleasing flatness in some of the recordings of the 1950’s and 60’s.
I love the way your comment about writing and your thoughts here about photography seem to play off each other.
And I’m so blessed today to read a post from you!
Thanks Peter.
Here is the link to Peter's post silence. He takes you on a journey to shop for "noise-canceling" headphones and a visit to a water park. Quite evocative, wonderful writing.
Thanks for the Bonnard reference and linking these ideas of flattening distance, flattening sound.
Glad to be bloggin' again and your encouragement helps.
You've really captured the light in this photo, wonderful. I like your idea that you're protecting the wildlife by not exposing it.