Andrew Morrill Photography: Subterrestrial

Feb 22, 2008

Subterrestrial

Update -- An even more final version :) (6-2-08)
New Update -- This is the final version.
I took this picture on the same trip to Arches as the picture below this one. If you looked in exactly the opposite direction you would see Delicate Arch right in front of you. Everyone there is always so distracted by the Arch that most people don't notice this view. It was a real sight; I was the only serious photographer there at the time and to everyone's surprise, I pointed the camera in the opposite direction. Very fun.

2 comments:

Melyssa said...: BEEEEEEAUTIFUL! Makes me want to go exploring. Dang. I wish gas prices weren't so high. We'd love to spend a week with you, Jenn and Kate out in nature.; 4/03/2008
Anonymous said...: I always loved the "other" side of Delicate Arch, but you have to be careful, I went over there to do some shooting and got yelled at by the gathered crowd wanting to pretend there was no one there :)

I pinged your post here in one of my blogs (my life in la). Thanks.; 4/23/2008

Artist's Statement

I believe photography is about recognizing those amazing moments and places we have all experienced. Photography is unique in that it is an honest medium, but it can also be easily manipulated. A photograph will always give a sense of reality whether what you're looking at is true to life or not. This combination creates a dynamic power of expression.

Before I expose any film, I first seek out the essence of the location I'm shooting and work to express that essence in every composition. A place is beautiful for reasons we do not always understand, and we sometimes take its elements out of context, lessening their power. I believe every photograph should have a defined message and purpose; I decide on a message for each photograph before taking the camera out. With a purpose or message in mind, I then use the tools of line, texture, color, form etc to achieve that message.

Equipment and Process

Equipment
For my photography, I use 4x5 and 5x7 film cameras (that means, for a 4x5, the film is actually four inches by five inches). These formats are called "large format." You may be familiar with images of Ansel Adams under a black hood, taking pictures with an accordian looking camera. He used one of the largest formats--8x10. Large format has many advantages which I will only mention briefly here: better tonality, greater focusing control, perspective control, and of course, the ability to print very large pictures that retain the highest detail possible. To give you an idea, 4x5 film is about equivalent to a 200 megapixel digital camera. Large format photography is also considerably more challenging than other formats. For example, the image on the ground glass (like a view finder) is upside down and backwards.

Process
After exposing the transparency film (positive film), it is developed at a local lab. After a lot of thought, I choose my favorite transparencies to have drum scanned (a drum scanner is a commercial, professional scanner). When I receive the finished scans, I get to work photo editing. Using Photoshop, I enhance color accuracy and saturation, local and overall contrast, density, and sharpness. Editing the scan takes between a few weeks to a few months, and is by far the most creative step in the process. Once edited, the photos are ready to be printed on traditional photographic paper or using up-and-coming inkjet technologies. Because of the expense and effort associated with every image, there are only a few finished images. In the end, I hope to have powerful and expressive images that capture the spirit of the scene.

Feb 22, 2008

Subterrestrial

2 comments:

Artist's Statement

Equipment and Process

Walker Titan XL 5x7

My Favorite Photographers

Some of My Favorite Places