The Art of the Reticent Landscape
Even though I’m no youngster, I am pretty new to the whole idea of seriously pursuing photography as an artistic medium. I’ve really only been at it a few years and, in fact, just completed my first solo gallery exhibition in Minneapolis. Being new means I’m hungry to grow, and I learn something new every day—about myself, about the medium, about the business of art, about other artists who define the field and how they pursue their singular visions.
I recently discovered the unassuming Website of North Dakota landscape photographer Chuck Kimmerle. Mr. Kimmerle is quietly creating beautiful landscapes far from the trendiness of the art photography hotspots. While his brand of landscape work may not be trendy or sexy, I felt the revelation of true joy one feels when being exposed to the work of a skilled master. I’ve often believed anyone can take a beautiful photograph of a stunning landscape (or of a gorgeous woman for that matter), but it takes a really superior vision to extract beauty from the mundane. Mr. Kimmerle has patiently uncovered remarkable beauty from what he calls the “reticent landscape, devoid of the natural grandiosity preferred by the majority of destination seekers.”
Every image is perfectly crafted, full of detail and tonality–keenly observed and well-captured. This is the kind of work I strive to create.
Oh, and his prints are remarkably affordable and can be purchased directly from the artist himself!
I’ve never seen this photography but thank you so much for introducing him. I’ve never seen anything like these photos! AMAZING!
And yes, photography really does require an artistic eye for. I’m in highschool right now, and the “photographers” only do photography because they can’t do anything else. They basically just take pictures that generally are pretty, but not artistically pretty (you know what I mean?). ie) they don’t use design principles, elements of art, anything that would add to the aesthetics. That’s why I think photography is REMARKABLE. You can barely control your subject, but you have complete control over how you record that subject.
I’m definitely going to look at more of Kimmerle’s photos. Great find!
Best of luck with your own photography