Intimate Landscapes
Intimate landscapes are the smaller scenes within the grand landscape. They are that middle area between macro shots and the grand, sweeping vista. They are detailed, but not to the granular level of a macro shot. The idea is to pull us into the scene and make us really see what nature displays right in front of us.
A walk out in nature is all it takes to find likely photo subjects. However, we often miss them. This is because, we are so focused on the path in front of us so we don’t trip over the stones, roots and steps in the path. We have to learn to periodically stop and simply look around. This is a case where the journey is more important than getting to the destination. There is beauty all around us in nature. All we have to do is stop and look around.
Taking time to “stop and smell the roses” as the phrase goes, is easier said than done. On my recent trip to the Pacific Northwest, one of my goals was to try to find some intimate landscapes to photograph. It turned out to be harder than I thought. Our hikes usually involved getting to a particular destination such as a waterfall. I quickly found that it was so easy to be consumed with getting to the waterfall that I forgot to look around while along the way.
I had to continually remind myself that intimate landscapes were important photo ops the same as the waterfalls were. It wasn’t always easy. Sometime, the trail helped out by being so steep that I’d have to stop to catch my breath. However, on flat land it was more difficult. Fortunately, I stopped often enough to look around that I found some shots I’m happy with. It can be hard to slow down. However, it’s worth the effort.
The Photos
All of my shots are from either Olympic National Park or North Cascades National Park. However, you don’t have to go to a national park to find a suitable intimate landscapes. If you look carefully enough you can find an intimate landscape shot in even a small patch of nature.
While stopping to catch my breath on the hike up from Second Beach I noticed this patch of ferns that just demanded I photography them.
This was a “stop the car and turnaround” moment. I spotted this lone tree on the ridgeline at North Cascades NP and just had to do a quick U-turn to take a shot.
Sometime you have to simply just turn around and look behind you to find your shot. The view of Diablo Lake from an overlook in North Cascades NP was nice. However, the view looking the other direction has it own appeal.
The Hall of Mosses in the Hoh Rainforest at Olympic NP is the forest primeval. Moss and ferns everywhere.
I love how the sunlight is filtered through the trees to light up patches of ferns around this tree.
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How do you go about shooting intimate landscapes? Please leave a comment in the comment box below.
