 |
Sugar Maple Woods, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 2009
This site is about photographs and photography, and represents the current state of what has been my avocation for 30 or so odd years, landscape photography. Here you will find photographs taken primarily on the plains, hills, bluffs, fields, pastures, wetlands, lakes, rivers, streams, and towns and cities of the north central plains. In my mind, the term landscape includes all those physical elements which reflect light in our environment, and so the photographs range from extreme close-ups to expansive panoramic photographs, and surely include the built environment.
To find out more about the images and about using this site, please read on. Otherwise, simply use the links in the heading above to begin to view images.
PLEASE NOTE: All images on this site are copyrighted and may not be used without the permission of David Tacke.
Site Content
Most of the current photographs happen to depict landscapes and details from the natural world taken over the past year or two. As this site grows, old and new images from rural, urban, wilderness and mixed settings will make their way onto the pages. In most cases I plan to include informative text about the image and occasionally information about the photography involved in making the image.
Each image has been assigned to one or more categories. New categories and sub-categories will appear from time to time. Categories are a subjective way for me to help you find photographs, or perhaps more importantly, groups of photographs, based on what I believe you may find helpful for certain purposes. They may even change over time. Should the above photograph fall under "Art, Aboriginal" or should it fall under "Parks, National Parks, Canada" or perhaps both or something else? I have to admit, I'm struggling with making a decision on the "best" way to categorize images, as categorization is artificial. Outside of this site, what was originally a "scientific" photograph may later become known as an "art" photograph; should I try to fit external categories? Well, this is a new site and hopefully, as I rearrange things, my learning will not cause undue confusion along the way. If you want to ignore categories, click on the above link, By Number. As I randomly prepare an image for this site, I add the next sequential image number. There is no logic to my numbering.
In addition to categories, I also add keywords "behind the scenes" of each document. In the case of the pictograph of the moose I have added a fair number of keywords representing major elements or themes, including: Pictograph, Moose, Lichen, Painting, Aboriginal, BWCAW, Quetico, Spring, National Park, Canoe, Wilderness. These may be helpful when you use the search feature described below.
Finally, I believe that descriptions can be helpful for certain purposes and will do my best to include brief and accurate descriptions and captions for those who are interested. As I learn more about certain subjects, I may have to backtrack and revise pre-existing descriptions. For example, the terms bog and fen and wetland each have qualities that overlap. And the terms may be defined in slightly different ways in the USA, Canada and Europe. As I become aware of inaccuracies, I will change them.
Navigating This Site
This site is primarily composed of documents, each containing a photograph along with descriptive text. The descriptive information reveals image size, the categorization of the image, some keywords, and perhaps a paragraph or two of background information. After you've viewed a document, use the Back feature on your browser to return to your previous location.
All image documents can be found by using the links in the site heading or by using the search function. Three links in the heading take you to sorted text lists, including: By Number, By Title, By Category. Two links, Panoramas and Standard Prints, take you to thumbnails, or miniature photos, which are organized first by overall image format and then by categories grouped into tabbed sections.
The home page has a search feature which you can use to search across all categories. Just click on Search, located at the top right on the home page. If you are looking for a specific image reference number, enter that number. Otherwise, enter any terms or keywords to find all images which contain those terms. Separate each term with a comma. There are a few search options, so check them out.
Product Types
Each image is available in one or more product types, including: standard format prints, panoramic prints, greeting cards, and bookmarks. These are described below. Each image may be available in a unique set of product types, and available product types are indicated in the descriptive text with each photograph. Prints may be purchased as a rolled print or as a framed photograph. Greeting cards and bookmarks are available on-line in multi-unit sets, as indicated on the To Order link. Eventually I plan to have a shopping cart to help order items, but for now, please request items via e-mail using the information on the To Order link.
Standard Format Prints
Standard format implies that the ratio of the short dimension to the long dimension is from 1 to 1.5, or so. For example, a 4x5 in. film is 4 units on the short dimension by 5 units on the long dimension, for a ratio of 1.25. This was a common, hence classic, ratio in photography for a long time. More recently, 35mm and smaller digital cameras ratios have been available in the 1.5 range. When the long dimension is significantly longer than the short dimension, the photograph may be termed panoramic.
Most standard format prints are available as prints, greeting cards, and bookmarks.
Panoramic Prints
One day I will invest in a good panoramic camera. In the meantime, one of the techniques I've found interesting is the use of software to stitch photographs together to create panoramic photographs. Stitching can be a "cheap" way to create these images, as the software is relatively inexpensive. One advantage of the stitching technique is that it can be used with medium and large format film to create, well, pretty good sized panoramas. Another advantage is that it makes possible a very wide format image, up to 360 degrees. While this technique would seem to require a static subject, this is not always the case, as illustrated in Rapids on the Nina Moose River. One disadvantage of my current technique is that the software sometimes has trouble doing a "perfect" stitch, particularly in "busy" parts of a photo where there are many tree branches for example. Another factor is the precision with which the original photographs were taken, as shown when you compare this edited panorama with this unedited panorama. The previous photo was taken with a tripod to help keep the photos in alignment with the railroad track. This panorama was stitched from several handheld exposures, and the misalignment is very apparent. Currently I live within the capabilities of the process, but continue to work on improvements.
Panoramas may be short or long, depending on subject matter. Short panoramas may be available as greeting cards and bookmarks.
Greeting Cards
All standard format images and many panoramas are available as greeting cards. Greeting cards are printed on heavy stock photo paper, then signed and folded to fit into a 5x7 in. envelope. Both the card and envelope are sealed in a cellophane envelope. Greeting cards are available in multi-unit packages on-line.
Bookmarks
Most images are available as bookmarks. Bookmarks are printed on heavyweight paper and vary in size depending on the image format. Bookmarks are available in multi-unit packages on-line.
|