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Tobias Hägg is an accomplished landscape photographer who is known for his unique and skilled use of drone photography. He is driven by a desire to explore the environment and showcase its beauty; highlighting the importance of preservation efforts for future generations. His pictures of the Eastern Greenland Coastline are unimaginably beautiful and simplistic. Whenever I am in nature it is difficult to find one subject within a forest of one thousand things, so seeing his pictures and the beauty they possessed was unique in its own way. I now wonder if I can do this in my photography.

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Kai Hornung

Hornung is a professional landscape photographer from Hanover, Germany who prides his diverse pictures for the purity it represents. He has won numerous photographic awards because of his ability to evoke his viewer's emotions through his photography. His work tells a story just like any other's, but I really enjoy the feeling of purity I get from looking at them. This inspires me to take pictures as sharply as I can so that I don't have to edit them too much and they can be exactly as I saw them. Being able to make a picture look life-like is something I myself plan to master.

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https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Xflq-0DaGK1rAQS12hZBXKdHwYiiyd8-Gtyl7uBHu1w/edit

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Jimmy Chin is a National Geographic photographer who prides himself in being a professional mountain athlete of Asian descent. He is widely known for his extraordinary achievements and an uncanny ability to visually tell his stories. Chin was born and raised in Mankato, Minnesota where he lived with his Chinese immigrant parents who showed him the importance of their cultural heritage. Aside from his photography, Chin is also a highly accomplished climber and has completed countless accents and expeditions around the world, ensuring to get one-of-a-kind photographs along the way. His ventures to extreme environments show how his photographs exemplify the hardiness of the human soul and the majesty of natural landscapes. On his website, he quoted himself saying “It’s about sharing stories that inspire people and open their eyes to a different world.” I found this message very powerful because everyone in society is interconnected and social media only makes it that much easier. Through his photographs, Chin can ignite a fire in people, providing them with an outlook on life that they never saw possible. I find a lot of inspiration in his work and although I do not want to go rock climbing, he makes it look easy and fun. I enjoyed looking at the pictures of him rock climbing because through his facial expressions and body language it is obvious there is nothing else, he would rather be doing. 

About - Jimmy Chin. (2022, April 15). Jimmy Chin. https://jimmychin.com/about/

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Richard Avedon is a renowned American photographer who focuses mainly on portrait photography and is known for erasing the line between “art” and “commercial” photography. Avedon became interested in photography at a young age and even joined the armed forces in 1942 to serve as a Photographer’s Mate during World War II. After serving two years of service. Avedon would begin his career as a professional photographer, creating fashion images and studying under Alexey Brodovitch at the Design Laboratory of the New School for Social Research. Avedon would say “My photographs don’t go below the surface. I have great faith in surfaces. A good one is full of clues.”, by this he was telling the whole world that as a photographer, he creates the image, not the other way around. For most viewers, a picture will often suggest the personality or lifestyle of a subject giving us a outside look into someone else personal life. Avedon would concur and has shown his confidence to bend his stylistic and narrative purposes onto a subject. His brand-defining work and associations with big-name brands have resulted in some of the best-known advertising campaigns in American History. Portrait photography is a realm that I am personally weary of entering because I struggle as an artist to keep things “natural” between me and my subject. Avedon can capture the emotions of each of his subjects, as they stand in frame with confidence and beauty. This Dior photoshoot was one of my favorites because of the seriousness and class the subject possesses. The way she holds her binoculars makes me feel like I am out of her social class, and it makes me feel inferior. She is untouchable. 

The Richard Avedon Foundation. (n.d.). The Richard Avedon Foundation. https://www.avedonfoundation.org/

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Kris Burkard

is a photographer who has incorporated his many talents and hobbies into his work. In doing so, he has captured pictures and stories that inspire humans to reconsider their relationship with nature and the preservation of the wilderness. His work falls into the realm of landscape and environmental photography, with a hint of human lifestyle. Burkard is the type of individual who craves an adventure, the unknown, and in his Ted Talk he quotes psychologist Brock Bastion; “Pain is a shortcut to mindfulness.” After he said this, I said to myself that pain often comes with exploring the wilderness and found myself even more enveloped in the Ted Talk. He went on to show the crowd what a day in his life looks like and the many different insane and beautiful places he explores. From snowy mountaintops to the ice-cold waters of the arctic, there isn’t any place Burkard wouldn’t venture besides tourist spots. He went on to explain that the more time he spent travelling the less magical it seemed to be because of the interconnectedness these “exotic places” have with society. Burkard would quickly find what he was looking for, a harsh and unforgiving environment that allowed him to push himself past his limits. Burkard is the definition of an Adrenaline Junkie and I am too; I will continue to hike our Sierra Nevada’s and put myself in uncomfortable situations just for the perfect shot that I want. When I look at his pictures, I find a sense of adventure trying to get its way of out me and it is very inspiring. I think that the journey it takes to get somewhere is just as important as the final product and Burkard is a prime example of this. The picture that I provided above is of him and his crew getting ready to go surfing in a snowstorm in Norway. This is beyond gnarly, and it really demonstrates how determined and passionate he is about his photography and his lifestyle.

About. (n.d.). Chris Burkard. https://www.chrisburkard.com/Pages/About

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Cool the Flames

Marc Adamus is a renowned landscape photographer who has spent his life exploring and sharing the beauty of wilderness exploration through his photos. From a young age Adamus has always had an interest in nature and exploring the many wonders it has to offer. I can resonate with Adamus as a photographer because his philosophy is to be himself and explore the unknown. Not only does he go headfirst into unknown lands, but he decides to take pictures when he "can feel it" as if it's his sixth sense. His pictures have a very aweing affect, and some are even jaw dropping. Adamus claims that he can be very "liberal" with photoshop, meaning that anything besides the subject matter in his photos are subject to editing and are usually changed in some way. I really enjoyed looking at Adamus's photos and find it inspiring that he always seems to find asymmetrical balance throughout every scene. I find a lot of enjoyment in spending time with nature, especially when I can take a picture that captures the true essence of the environment. Going forwards, I believe that I will take more time to edit my photos and find ways to make them exaggerated and mythical just like Adamus's "Cool the Flames".

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Practice makes perfect

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Theme Project

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For my Theme Project, I aim to explore and photograph the nuances and dynamics of societal interactions. I will focus on how individuals and groups connect, communicate, and coexist in public spaces. Societal interactions capture the essence of community, highlighting diversity and similarities and unifying the power of human connections. From absurd cinematic arguments to the unspoken rules guiding public behavior, every interaction is a transformative experience in humanity. Documenting this theme will involve observing everyday changes, where brief interactions can reveal complex social structures and cultural norms. 

Human behavior has always been a topic that captures my attention and I want to be able to highlight the unconscious or conscious impacts individuals have on one another. I intend to capture moments that would otherwise be unnoticed and consider how they reflect our shared “humanity”. I enjoy self-reflection and learning more about others, so this theme resonates with me beautifully as it invites me to reflect on my interactions and connections with others. 

I plan to capture these interactions with a candid approach, allowing scenes to unfold naturally without interference. I will use my NEX-7 Sony mirrorless camera with a 35mm fixed lens and my iPhone 16 pro to highlight expressions, body language, and subtle cues that define these moments. My main focus will be capturing images that reflect the diversity of interactions across different settings. I will not approach individuals but if they seem bothered, I will go out of my way to explain my theme project and ask for permission. 

Through this project, I hope to encourage viewers to reflect on their roles and connections within society. By presenting these snapshots of the public I hope to inspire empathy and a deeper understanding of the importance of community. My goal is to challenge viewers to recognize the value in small, everyday exchanges and to view society not just as a collection of individuals, but as a network of interwoven lives and shared moments. I envision this project as both a celebration of diversity and an invitation to consider how we each shape and are shaped by the people around us.

(This guy was just walking down the street, and I yelled at him to hit a pose)

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An oak tree boldly standing in a field of hi-res stock grass

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Built my new skateboard 🤙🏼

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Micheal Kenna is a British photographer best known for his passion for long-exposure shots, which allowed him to take some of his best-known photographs of unpopulated landscapes and urban scenes. Kenna's photographic album, Japan captures the essence of Japanese landscapes, architecture, and culture through his signature black-and-white photography. This book is well put together and immerses the viewer in a journey of stillness, simplicity, and natural beauty. The book itself was put together meticulously and encourages you to indulge in its beautiful aesthetic. It features a scroll-like casing, with a book that evokes traditional Japanese culture, suggesting the author has a close connection and passion towards Japanese culture. Upon removing from the case you are introduced to a bright red felt-covered book featuring the word "JAPAN" in the middle. The black and red layout creates a visual flow throughout the book. The pictures themselves are laid out with minimalistic purpose, with one photo per page ensuring viewers can fully immerse themselves in each image without distraction. A common theme that is portrayed throughout this book is beauty through simplicity and minimalism. A lot of the scenes he portrays depict simple, uncluttered scenes that allow the viewers to focus on subtle and underlying emotions and details. His use of negative space contrasts with a single object that is often small but gives the viewer a clear focal point. This focal point is calming and allows the viewer to contemplate about its true essence.

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Ansel Adams "Northern Palisade"

Ansel Adams was born in San Francisco, CA on February 20, 1992, and in his later years he would go on to become one of the most influential photographers in the United States. At age 12 Adams's father pulled him out of school which ultimately compelled him to become a well-skilled pianist. It wasn’t until Adams had become a custodian at the Sierra Club in Yosemite National Park that he took his first steps into photography. Adams dedicated most of his work to what appeared to be or was untouched land by man; most of his powerful and meaningful work was taken within Yosemite Valley as well as the High Sierra mountains. The photo that I will be analyzing is Ansel Adam’s Northern Palisades, this was taken from Windy Point in 1936 when the idea of Kings Canyon National Park was being proposed. This picture is absolutely stunning in my eyes, and I enjoy looking at the rigid texture of the Palisades as well as the dynamic jagged features it presents. When looking at this picture, I feel Adams did a great job at highlighting the Palisade's natural beauty and creating a sense of psychological movement in the picture as viewers pan the mountain from the bottom up. This movement creates and reinforces a sense of awe and magnificence as every jagged edge, crevice, and even the tip of the mountain is crisply defined. This inspires me to take as many pictures as I can while I go hiking and to venture into the unknown wilderness. Just like Ansel Adams had done, I have to put myself out there as a photographer and immerse myself in my surroundings to create the best pictures possible. I want people to feel invested in my photography and come up with something new or even recreate something better.

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https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1znNkwfBQWMz_bSqIsZDfcjvF48DWVUJ-iwmcx_f91XM/edit?usp=sharing

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Lounging with the cows. PSA: Do Not Drink water from Collins Creek.