Title:
Photography as a Creative Outlet
Exposure Data:
1/60 second, F/10, ISO 200
Sony A7SII Camera, Nikkor 24-70mm lens at 24mm
For as long as I can remember, photography has been a source of wonder and inspiration to me. I marveled at the variety of commercial images my grandfather, Richard Dean, and my father, Everett, produced at their Glens Falls studio, Dean Color. There were shots for brochures, rack cards, calendars and other advertising media; portraits of business people and politicians, families, brides, grooms and high school graduating classes; stock photos for newspapers and magazines; and what most captured my artistic senses … thousands upon thousands of scenic post cards. They all influenced my career.
For me, landscape photography has been a means for expressing my reverence for beautiful places and natural phenomena. It continues to be a creative outlet—a challenging, ever-evolving pursuit to convey to others and myself the very essence of a place, what it feels like, how it affects me. The hope is the images will affect others, so they might experience what I did. Photography can do this for anyone who picks up a camera or smartphone. There’s something magical about trying to capture and share instinctive beauty.
During the coronavirus outbreak, so long as it can be done safely, outdoor photography can be a therapeutic, creative act. Nature has restorative powers. If you’re so inclined, get outside and explore. Waters still flow across the landscape. Sunrise light gilds the mountains. Stars wander the nocturnal sky. Let your photography lead you to beauty. It can be a wonder-full, creative outlet for your pent-up passions.
For my image entitled Embracing Sunrise, made at Simon Pond near Tupper Lake, I got down low and very close with a wide-angle lens to encompass the outstretched arms of this arrowhead plant symbolically reaching for the light. In the other, a couple photographs one of the most intriguing foggy mornings I’ve seen, at a pond near Lake Placid.
Wishing you happy wanderings and awe-inspired imagery. Stay safe and healthy.
Mark Bowie is a frequent contributor to Adirondack Life magazine and a much sought-after public speaker, offering presentations for conferences, camera clubs and other groups. He is a staff instructor for the Adirondack Photography Institute. API is closely monitoring the virus pandemic and the safety of their workshop students and instructors remains the top priority. The summer and fall workshops are still on, but that could change as conditions warrant. For the latest information, see API’s website: www.adkpi.org, or ask to be added to the contact list.
Please visit Mark’s new website, www.markbowie.com, to view new image galleries and keep abreast of his workshops, presentations and product releases.
