Taking us back Scotland in 2013, where we encounted the Bodach, a Gaelic mythological figure.
It’s great fun to revisit images from past vacations, which is what I grabbed for this week’s edition. I’m looking back to a vacation that took us across quite a bit of Scotland back in 2013. Planning our vacations always takes a bit of extra effort to ensure that all our animals are taken care of in the best possible way (read: they get spoiled by a pet sitter while they enjoy all the comforts of home). As this was our first significant international vacation, there were definitely lessons learned.
Here’s an image that goes back to that 2013 vacation…
The Bodach
The Bodach is a sort of trickster in Gaelic mythology and this particular one has a story of admiration. The statue sits at the top of Loch Long in Archer where, according to legend, the Bodach helped repel the Vikings who attempted to drag their longships across the hills to take over the Loch and beyond.
And those lessons learned from our vacation? As I had carefully planned a route across Scotland and many bed and breakfasts for us to stay at, we wound up spending too much time driving and not enough time enjoying. Later vacations were planned differently by picking a location to stay and exploring the surrounding area; much more restful and much less packing of suitcases!
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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A good lesson for sure Frank