Outside

It's been a while since my last post. I've been reacquainting myself with the scenic wonders around Sewanee. The panoramic views from the numerous bluffs can be overwhelming. Instead I've focused my attention on the vegetation. My eye has been drawn to very simple images of flowers and grasses, leaves and pine cones. I'm still trying to figure out how to photograph the acorns and hickory nuts that I've picked up on my walks. It will take me several more weeks to sort through the pictures I've taken to determine what's worth keeping.




















All Images ©2008 Greg Petropoulos

Nature

Like flowers, I feel a certain level of guilt when I photograph nature. Again, nature brings a great deal of beauty to the table before the photographer pushes the shutter button. There is, however, a significant challenge in nature photography that diminishes my guilty feelings. Nature is big, and it takes a trained eye to focus on what is interesting and beautiful. Not everyone with a camera can do what Ansel Adams did, nor does every scenic vista translate well to the photographic medium. In the end, I have mixed feelings toward nature photography. The reality is almost always better than the picture. But there is a high level of skill and expertise (and in many cases, physical hardship), that goes into a good nature photograph. At this point I can only take credit for being in the right place at the right time, and having the insight to see the picture as it presented itself.