I-Beam Sunset
Beauty and Photography
We’re surrounded by beauty. But sometimes, the camera fails to capture that arresting scene. Our eyes see the world differently than the camera.
For example, walking through a forest is an alluring experience. Tree trunks, branches, and leaves dance in the light, combining to form lovely images that change with every step.
But what happens when you stop walking and take a picture of the forest? Oftentimes, the photograph is disappointing. The grandeur has been reduced to a chaotic, confusing, jumble of elements by the camera.
I once spent two days in the Hoh Rainforest in Washington State. The sights were mesmerizing. But I emerged with only one good photograph. The hundreds of others appeared to be a feeble attempt to document an explosion in a green spaghetti factory!
Other times, beauty is inescapable, even to the camera. For example, you can stand anywhere on the breathtaking Zabriskie Point Overlook in Death Valley National Park and take the same pleasing image of Manly Beacon.
What About Ugly?
You might think that “ugly” subjects never make arresting photographs. For example, who gets excited at the prospect of images of mud?
Yet images of mud can be delightful.
Mudflats
Mud cracks in Death Valley National Park
The Shot
Two years ago, I spent several days on Florida beaches photographing the simple beauty of waves. But one evening, the wind was calm, and no good waves appeared.
I could have given up and left for dinner. But I decided to seek out an alternative subject instead.
An assemblage of rusty steel H-beams and broken concrete block was just down the beach. Most people would classify it as junk and want it removed. Could ugly be transformed by the camera?
It had potential. First, I looked for an angle to capture the diagonals. Next, I carefully positioned the camera to avoid any distracting overlapping of the beams. Finally, I used a long shutter speed to simplify and smooth out the water, further reducing distractions.
The sunset light warmed up parts of the rusty orange beams, contrasting nicely with the blues of the sky and ocean. Everything just seemed to come together beautifully in this satisfying image.
Thanks for looking,
Chuck Derus