Elements

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

This is the final blog post of 2014 and it seemed reasonable to get back to the fundamental aspect of photography that so captivated me from the beginning.

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

That basic element was simply being in the outdoors and visualizing the patterns in nature…

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

…or listening to the rush of water moving quickly past…

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

…or having the opportunity to experience the tactile sensation of various textures.

These four photographs were all made within 10 yards of each other on a chilly day and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have had my senses be so thoroughly stimulated.

Thank you for reading these posts and I wish you well in the new year.

Take care.

Pax

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

The above and following photographs were all made in or around the Peach Orchard, which is the site of some of the most fierce fighting during the battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

 

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

 

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

Given that this battle occurred over 150 years ago, there is, of course, no real sign of the carnage that took place here.  In fact, it is very much the opposite as many businesses trade on the history and attract thousands of tourists each year-especially on the anniversary dates.

Speaking of anniversaries, we have just passed the 100th anniversary of the close of World War I, which was to have been the war that ended all wars.  That has not been the case.

2015 is right around the corner and while this is completely naive, and I most certainly know better, it would be nice to think that there would be peace throughout the world in the coming year(s).

Pax.

 

Humanist Photography

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

The December 2014 issue of Harper’s magazine (a subscription is required to view the article online) contains an article written by Stuart Franklin and is entitled “Crooked Timber”.  The article is a discussion and definition of the genre known as “humanist photography”.  The main thesis Mr. Franklin posits is whether or not humanist photography requires human subjects.  The article is a wonderful read from both historical and philosophical perspectives.

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

Within the realm of psychology, the Humanist perspective developed in response to Freud’s psychoanalytic emphasis on the unconscious and innate drives as being the determining factor in human behaviour.  The Humanists, in contrast, believed in the concept of free will-that humans have the ability to make conscious choices and actually strive to be “good” or to become “self-actualized”.  Adherents to this viewpoint readily acknowledge that social and other forces can, and do, interfere with achieving that goal. In some cases, to be human means to suffer.  In others, it would mean to be joyfully exuberant.  Are people required to demonstrate that range of emotion in photographs?

Since that first trip to New Orleans in 2008, the majority of my photography has focused on the environmental impact of the human condition. The photographs posted in this blog very, very rarely contain people, but the human presence is unmistakable.

Take care.

 

Lines

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

Lines can lead you to the end…

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

…or at least away from where you are.

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

Leading lines draw the eye across the frame and are used as a compositional element in photography.  The apparent convergence gives a sense of distance and fools the mind by creating a third element-depth-in a two-dimensional medium.

I have always liked these particular walls because of the varying lines and textures and photograph them each chance I have.  Today was overcast and so there are no harsh highlights or very deep shadows-a gentle light that allowed for the various hues in the bricks, stones, and metal to step forward.

Take care.

 

Good Will

Copyright 2014 Kevin P. Mick Photography. All rights reserved.

Someone is going to need these boots soon as colder temperatures and mixed precipitation have arrived.  These were photographed along side of a road.

The winter months are a very difficult time for those in need, so please do consider any donations of coats, hats, gloves, mittens, boots, and any other warm clothing to the variety of community-based organizations that will accept them.

It is cold out there.

Take care.