Nature photographers are often allergic to putting people in their photographs. I must admit culpability sometimes, too.
There are times, however, when a landscape with people in it is so much more interesting than one without.
Case in point: a couple of years ago on the Outer Banks, we had a spectacular sunset. The skies were blazing, and the reflections in the water amazing. It was only going to get better after sunset.
People lined up along an historic bridge to watch the sun actually set over the sound. It is a traditional thing to do in these parts.
I was photographing, of course, but I was really waiting for all those pesky people to go home. Go away! Out, Spot, out!
The sun sank below the horizon, and true to form, everyone left. What do they know about light anyway? I did “my” photograph … but when I got home, guess which one I much preferred? How about you? Which one do you think has more oomph?
So, don’t be afraid to allow people to appear in some of your landscapes. They can give a sense of scale, place, or mood. They don’t have to take over the whole photograph, but they don’t always have to be viewed as uninvited guests.
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You are so right—the shot with people makes it better. It is a beautiful photo. There is both a delicacy in the silhouetted forms and a great intensity in that sunset. A lot could be said about it. Thanks for taking it.
Thank you, Harvey, and thank you for subscribing to our blog.
As to the photo, it is really a lot of fun making photographs like these Everything, except the weather and what Mother Nature has to offer, is planned. I’m glad you like it. It is certainly one of my favorites.
Take care,
TBC
Whether Ansel said it or not, having a person (or two or three) in the image does draw the eye. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. My Bonaventure image with Arnie in it (which you have included in Student Successes) is a case where it’s a good thing, because he is where I want your eye drawn to anyway. The same is true of this image. Without the people, it’s a lovely sunset, but my eye isn’t as sure of where to focus as in the one with people. Which is why the people make it more interesting – they strengthen rather than distract. So here it’s a good thing!
Nat,
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I agree that in this case, the one with people in it is far preferable. All I had to do is lighten the silhouettes a tad so they wouldn’t be black black.
Take care,
TBC
For most of my photographic “career”, I have avoided including people in my images. Lately, I have tried to go the other direction and include people, as well as concentrating on the quality of light. I guess what it ultimately comes down to, as in your two examples, is what creates the more interesting image. In this case, the silhouettes of the people create the image that attracts me more. Speaking of Henri Cartier-Bresson, I just made the plunge and bought the Leica M9 with Summicron f/2.0 50mm lens for the trip to Spain in June. Wish me luck on shooting for the first time ever with a rangefinder camera. I am frightened! Dave
Dave,
Thanks for writing and chiming in. I hope the blog shows readers that people are sometimes a plus in an image.
Meanwhile, you really did it! You’ll love the camera. And the lens? Fabulous. It will wow the socks off you. Of course, lilke Cartier-Bresson, you’ll have to use your foot zoom! LOTS, but that is a good thing.
It seems we’ll be in Spain at the same time, albeit in different provinces.
Take care,
TBC
I think it depends on the mood you are going for. One day I may prefer without people as I like the solitude, but others, I like it with them. Shows the appreciation of beauty by others. (I like “with people” today by the way!)
Alisa,
I agree with you, but the point is that we don’t need to always avoid people. There are definitely cases, such as this one, where people really bring the scene alive.
Thanks for your comments.
Take care,
TBC
Wow – cool concept as i too try never to include people in my photos unless absolutely relevant …
yet your two photos are not totally on par, light speaking that is …
the first photo with people have the advantage of sun angles thus a bit more orange twinkles under bridge whereas after the people left, in the second photo the bridge gets closed in a bit with darkness in same area so not as much orange …
both are totally cool and yes, sometimes the human element adds … technically i think it adds best when in outline, almost icon-like form, to show dimension and scale …
years back i heard interview or read account of why one of America’s most famous naturual landscape painters did not put humans into field of vision … might have been Ansel Adams ..??.. thus during said interview he retorted, “hey, as soon as i put a peep into the scene, everybody who looks at my work automatically is drawn to the peep(s) and gets judgemental thus misses the grand vista and dance there in yada yada …”
okay, maybe Ansel did not say that per se but that was essence … along said lines, he also was reported to think of his negatives like scores to an orchestra and that akin to music an orchestra plays, every time it is different, everytime he developed his negatives, the images were a bit different hence the comparison of prints to orchestra performance …
regardless, thanks for sharing and as fyi, somehow i got to your blog following wordpress p2 themes but i digress …
wishing you all the best of ongoing visual success et al.
cordially, chuck scott
ps – last time i visited North Carolina i came home with over 4,000 photos, 10 hours of audio recordings plus sundry video clips … not to mention a resolution by wife, dog and i to repeat said NC loop – what aweseome country – no wonder the Cherokee had to be forced from their lands but i digress …
Chuck,
You are right about the light, but I never processed the non-people image the way I did the people one. There was also the element of the calmness of the water when I did the people version. Nothing is ever exactly the same, to be sure, but I think the people really made that shot better and more compelling.
I understand your digressing about North Carolina. It is so rich in photographic fodder, which is exactly why we run two workshops here. Besides, it’s in our own back yard. Hard to refuse!
Thanks for writing.
Take care,
TBC
Margo, love this post and sentiment! I do have an allergy to including people in photos, but am trying to learn to make it work. Sometimes in NYC it is unavoidable, no matter how much patience I have, or how long I wait. Thanks for the pointers! SN
SN,
So glad it was helpful. What, for example, would Henri Cartier-Bresson have been without people in his wonderful city-scapes?
Thanks for weighing in!
Take care,
TBC