Is Landscape Photography Dead?

[Gary@Red Photo]

So the question came up in my mind today, "Is landscape photography dead?" I saw several landscape images posted from Monument Valley, Arizona and that triggered my reaction. I used to be a landscape photographer. When I began photography, that is what I mostly photographed. I would go on trips, hike around, and come back with loads of photographs of nature, vistas, trees, and plenty of sunrise and sunsets. I used to get up very early in the morning and hike around in the dark, setting up to be ready for that sunrise. I remember that one time I was in Moab, Utah and I got up at around 2:00 AM to drive to Monument Valley, 188 miles away, to be there before sunset. It is a lovely drive as you can tell from this website, but it wasn't so scenic in the dark. I worked hard and I enjoyed it. And I have some beautiful images in my closet somewhere to prove it.

This cycle continued for several years. Then one day I was walking around in a town somewhere and I passed a gallery. I popped in and there on the floor was a lovely print of some aspen trees photographed in early morning light in the snow in a very symmetrical, abstract way. It was a very nice image. It was the exact same image that I had from the same place. And then the light went on. Anyone can take these landscape images that I took, or Ansel Adams, or Edward Weston. Maybe not as well, or printed with such high skill, but these images are mostly there except for the occasional 'miracle' shot. Some of these places have not changed in hundred or thousands of years. And how creative can you be with a landscape. I felt betrayed by my photography. I wanted to find out who took that image in the gallery and sue them for copyright infringement. I wanted to sue them for photographic infringement. They had invaded my joyful photo world and soiled it. But then I realized that I did not own that image or any other landscape image that I had worked so hard to take.

After that day I switched to doing more creative, artistic, abstract images that were unique to me and my style. I moved more into documentary style work. I found myself drawn to areas where I could produce unique images that you could tell were mine. It was the start of my fine art journey and the beginning of the development of my own personal style. Before I was just copying what had been done. But now I was coming into my own vision as a photographic artist. If you would like to read more about finding your personal style read my posts on 'Finding Your Own Artistic Style', 'Following the Path or Not', and 'Stand Out From the Crowd."

Now I do not think that landscape photography is dead. Maybe it has just bored people to death. I still think that it is a wonderful genre, but it never satisfied me completely. Everyone and their brother has the same pictures from the same places. That is not adding to the world aesthetic. I know that now, and so do you. Now it is your turn to discover where you are in your art flow and to go add your own personal vision to it.

[LeeR]

Let me start by admitting that I have not seen your work so what I am about to say is not a reflection of you or your work. However, I have seen a lot of work at art festivals that made me wonder how the photographer expected to make any money. People will not spend money for art they think they could produce themselves. Every yahoo out their with a cellphone camera thinks that with a bit of practice they will be the next Ansel Adams. Of course, we know better, but the simple truth is that people will not pay for work they think they can duplicate. That leaves us with two options: do stunning work that dazzles our viewers, or pick the non-representational route. I know that many amateurs have an inflated opinion of their work but I also think that it is possible to Wow the most jaded critic. Not easy, but still possible.

[bikingbadger]

I am just starting out as a photographer but in no way intend on making money with it. I think that one great shot is just timing and a ton of patience. Maybe re-vivting the same place a few time until you get the exact conditions. Landscape photography may be reproducing the same images but then you should be visiting places off the beaten track. If you're going to the same places as the other photographers then you will be producing similar stuff. So I think that as a landscape photographer a sense of adventure is needed and explorering less well known places...

[SwissJon]

This is such a sad point of view..

Do you really think that just because anyone can take a mediocre image of a well known monument, that nobody wants to see fine art pictures of that monument. Where have you been hiding your head recently?

The world may have changed.. Any fool with money can and does own a DSLR, but out of the 6 or 7 BILLION people on this planet, DSLR sales still only measured 10.9million in the past 12 months.. And of that 10.9 Million, I wonder how many just use the DSLR as they would a point and shoot, in purely Automatic mode.. Maybe 80% from my expreience.. So we're left with 20,000 competent new DSLR owners last year, this site has 140,000 members apparently, from accross the globe. It's a BIG world.. Sure, if we all take those to Monument valley or the Pyramids, someone's going to take a better shot than the one that you took.. But come on.. Does a bit of competition really scare you so much that unless you're the best at what you're doing, you stop doing it?

When I go to put a photo on my wall that was taken by someone else, I don't choose that photo because it was cheap, I choose it because I like it, and more often than not, because I met the person who took it.

The competition is hotting up, it's true, and it's probable that landscape photography is likely to pay less and less as an art, but far from being put off, you should embrace that. With more and more people living in cities and suburbs, you're one of the originals, everyone wants to learn to take photos like you, so teach them.. Take groups to Monument Valley, the Pyramids, wherever, and show them how to use their Point And Shoot DSLR's properly to obtain the kind of results that mean that they go home and transfer the picture in their camera onto their wall, and point at it and say "I took that", when in reality, all they did was press the button, it was you that "took" the photo by doing all the hard work leading up to the button press.

It's a sad world where artists give up because they think they can't compete anymore.. Who are you producing the art for anyhow?

[digirebelva]

Landscapes I don't do a lot simply for the reasons Leer mentioned, If someone thinks they can replicate the image easily then its simply a nice photograph (do a few art fairs and you will hear remarks to that effect many times)...What I shoot & do sell is cityscapes/urban, either wide view or details, such as popular buildings, specific blocks, but shot & processed in a way that makes it different from what they see everyday..Something they realize they cant replicate...I shoot for me first though, and only put up what I consider to be images that will resonate with viewers. Aint getting rich, but it does help pay for upgrades in my equipment..

[IABoomer]

Originally Posted by bikingbadger

I am just starting out as a photographer but in no way intend on making money with it. I think that one great shot is just timing and a ton of patience. Maybe re-vivting the same place a few time until you get the exact conditions. Landscape photography may be reproducing the same images but then you should be visiting places off the beaten track. If you're going to the same places as the other photographers then you will be producing similar stuff. So I think that as a landscape photographer a sense of adventure is needed and explorering less well known places...

I think the bold is key. By shooting "iconic" places, you're going to get the same "iconic" shots that everyone else who goes there gets. How many millions of photo albums do you think have someone holding up the leaning tower of Pisa, for example?

Landscape photography I think is far from dead or dying. People who want to shoot landscapes, however, might need to find less-common subjects to shoot, or uncommon ways of shooting the common subjects.

[Michael_2010]

I can understand a little frustration with trying to make a landscape shot interesting, but I think the art form is far from dead. The sky, light and texture of landscapes change all the time, so that alone will keep them living and breathing for a long time to come. There is also another aspect to the discipline, which involves documenting your surroundings. Changing weather, changing seasons, etc., etc., etc.......

[Elmo]

The trouble is our outlook. We tend to judge our work by other peoples standards. As artist our images should reflect our feelings, not the expectations of others. I see a lot of "copy" images, that is the same view point as something you have seen, we do not show our view. How often do we view a scene and stand back an understand what the scene says to us. In observing modern photographers I see far too much of click, change position and or exposure and click again. We get home and try to fix it in photoshop. As a old computer programmer I like to apply a term from that field " Garbage in Garbage out."

Some time I need to visit the area several times before I understand my feeling, other times it is bang, right then. After that it might take several revisits to get capture my feelings. AS artist we need to express our selves not just shoot for the gratification of hearing the shutter and hope we get something we can sell.

I know, now that I no longer shoot to suit other only myself my images are much better to me and I feel much better about my craft.

So is landscape photography dead? no, only the artist that produce them are very rare.

[Michael_2010]

This is an interesting topic that raises many questions beyond landscape photography. Some of the points could be made about any art form.

First we learn the mechanics of our chosen medium. Then we try to replicate works created by others in order to better understand the art. And, eventually we begin to find our own path. That is true whether you’re using a digital camera or a handful of moist clay. An understanding of the basics allows one to push the boundaries from an educated point of reference.

Hmmmmm…….. very thought provoking topic…….

[Gary@Red Photo]

These are all really great points and one of the reasons that I wanted to get this discussion out on the table. As the pool gets bigger will the true artists emerge? Can people still appreciate the beautiful nature of a well executed photograph in any field? I like to believe that they still can. I like the challenge that being creative creates for all of us.