Texture conveys a sense of history and age, such as the side of a weathered barn in Siglufjördur.
In my journey through all my images there are a set of themes emerging; one of these is that textured play an appreciable role in my photography, especially those that give a sense of history and age.
Today’s addition to a more (aka semi) permanent position in the portfolio is an example of this bent in my images…
Veður og Viður (Weather and Wood)
The climate in Iceland is not for the faint of heart or those among us who might prefer clear blue skies and poolside weather. There is plenty of rain, snow, ice, wind mixed in with a bit of salt when anywhere near the ocean that surrounds this lovely island. These elemental forces will take it out on anything they encounter, and the side of this barn shows the scars from this epic battle between weather and wood!
This capture is of one of the buildings of the Herring Era Museum in Siglufjördur in the northern area of Iceland. This great little fishing town had its heyday during the era when herring fishing was plentiful and driving its economy. Nowadays it’s a lovely, quiet town with a population of around 1200. For those among you who enjoy a good read, Siglufjördur is the setting for Ragnar Jónasson’s detective series entitled Dark Iceland.
A Fresh Perspective
Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment.
Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael.
My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals.
Universal Connections
My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation.
This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections.
Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client.
And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography!
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Love textures and this is a good one!
Thank you very much!