Andrew Morrill Photography: Among the Clouds

Mar 29, 2008

Among the Clouds

Update -- This is the final version (maybe :) )
Click on the photo for a larger (better) version. This shot was taken on the same Arches trip in 2005. I guess it takes me a LONG time to finish pictures. I just got this back from scanning and this is just a preliminary edit. The actual edit will take at least a week. Tell me what you think.

6 comments:

llcall said...: i really like your photographs, andrew. someday i want you to explain your whole process--i'm not sure i understand the scanning and then editing.; 3/29/2008
llcall said...: p.s. i'm larson, in case you are wondering who lindsay is.; 3/29/2008
llcall said...: thanks for posting more about the process...i can't believe you taught yourself how to do this! that's amazing!!!; 4/01/2008
llcall said...: p.s. i'm not sure why my name switched from lindsay to llc, but that's still me; 4/01/2008
Melyssa said...: I love the contrast in this photo. I also love the way you've captured the sky's depth- the endless clouds. Very impressive. I really think you should come visit us in AL and we could drive up to the Smokey Mtns. You'd love all the colors- esp. in the fall. :); 4/03/2008
Anonymous said...: I can't beleive I havn't commented om this pic yet. What an awesome shot.; 6/09/2008

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.

Mar 29, 2008

Among the Clouds

6 comments:

Artist's Statement

Equipment and Process

Walker Titan XL 5x7

My Favorite Photographers

Some of My Favorite Places