About Landscape Photography

About Landscape Photography

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Landscape by Jesús Manuel Mena Garza taken near Page, Arizona

Yes, If I owned an Ansel Adams print I would sell it to make a buck, but I would not put his work on my wall. If I were pretentious or naive, maybe.

Some photographers like to take landscape photos. I do too. But the simple fact remains, any landscape image won't even come close to actually being there. No camera can capture the subtle tones and textures resplendent in the natural world. Even the nature in your backyard (if you have a nice one) can be more vibrant than any print by a master.

That is why I don't take many landscapes. Obviously the seasons at Yosemite, Yellowstone and other natural venues repeat annually. If you go at the right time of year you can enjoy the real thing. The snowy river, the bright blue sky and the eroded canyons have not moved anywhere, yet.

Like many of you, I will take a landscape picture during a trip to remember a fleeting moment. Sadly, photos of nature are just flat and hollow mementos. Yes, they do stir memories and longings.

I believe that nature has to be seen smelled and touched up close and personal (while you can). When you are inspecting the desiccated remains of a Wynn Bullock landscape hanging on a sterile gallery or museum wall, do you ask yourself, I would rather be there than here?

When I walk, not drive down the street, my eyes are always focusing on the details. I see art and history in the subtle cracks, textures, shapes and sumptuous hues in nature and even in architecture. When your eyes are open to what is around you, what hangs in most museums and galleries appear only as second rate.

What do I like?

Having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area I quickly became familiar with the works of photography legends Adams (a great proponent of protecting our natural spaces), Weston and Cunningham (my instructor at the San Francisco Art Institute). I respect their work and technique. They brilliantly capture subtle gradations of tones and compose their images masterfully.

I suggest a different path. If you are able to visit a gallery, please investigate the work of Hiroshi Sugimoto or Minor White (earlier). They both offer unique oceanscapes. I consider their work more imaginative bordering on the abstract. Take your time and investigate their work. You will find them more distinct than the overly-hyped f64 crew.

Jesús Manuel Mena Garza
September 29, 1995