The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.
~G.K. Chesterton

Chesterton wasn't referring to landscape and nature photographers (or any type of photographer, for that matter), but he could have been. Just substitute "photographer" for "traveler."

To become a better photographer, one must master the art of seeing.

There's looking, and then there is seeing with a photographer's eye. These are two different things. The latter is not innate; it's a skill we must learn, refine and sustain, and it goes beyond passively looking with the eyes.

Seeing is, for the photographer, much more intentional. We observe the world through a unique prism, paying attention to details that others would probably consider irrelevant: things like the way a surface reflects light, or the way objects create geometric patterns, or a subtle shift in color temperature as the rising sun climbs higher in the sky.

This type of active seeing moves beyond the literal (as in "trees" or "rocks"). Instead, we perceive objects in terms of their shapes, or tonal values, or textures, or relationships. Active seeing is understanding how light, color, texture and form interact. It's visualizing creative options - things that can be done during capture or later in post-processing - that will transform an image from flat to dynamic.

Active seeing goes beyond just the eyes. It happens in our minds, too.

As we fine-tune our ability to observe, we'll begin to recognize more and more subject matter. Things we previously considered mundane might appear to be quite interesting. With sharpened observational skills comes a better understanding of how to arrange elements within the frame. The process of subtraction - removing non-essential components until only those which are necessary remain - becomes easier to execute.

This brings me back to the Chesterton quote, which is all about the connection between the eyes and the mind.

Expectations greatly impact perception.

Importantly, to develop the photographer's eye, one must let go of preconceptions. Forget about what you thought you were going to see, or what you hoped you'd see.

Try not to give in to frustration. This is particularly relevant when it comes to conditions that aren't what you anticipated or wanted. There's nothing you can do about it. With frustration can come blinders. Accept whatever Mother Nature has to offer on any given day, and consider the landscape in terms of what you can create instead of what you can't.

Eliminate distractions. Put the phone away and set the mental "to do" list aside for now.

Try to establish a connection with the place (whether this is your first visit or the hundredth). Use all of your senses to help you see.

Slow down. Take your time.

Do these things and you'll begin to notice all sorts of details and nuances and subtleties. Better yet, what captures your attention might be exclusive to you.

While the tourist's vision is often limited by what he expects, the traveler remains open-minded. Because of that, the traveler will see far more. It's also likely the things he sees will be more unique.

Be the Traveler.

About the Photograph

You can be the Traveler without leaving home.

I made this image from my back deck in New Hampshire. This was midway through a Nor'easter that would eventually leave 31 inches of heavy snow in its wake. I'd just finished clearing the latest round, which in addition to the driveway included shoveling the upstairs deck to get the weight off of it. I can't say that snow removal, especially from Nor'easters, has ever been one of my favorite chores. But the landscape that day was quite beautiful: too beautiful for a sour attitude. I lingered outside. The snow was coming down at a fast clip and since it was very wet, it stuck to everything.

In a sea of maples, I had an oak tree with lovely lines standing in my backyard. Instinctively, I looked up at it and was treated to a captivating scene. The combination of the flat, white sky, an intricate network of tree limbs now largely covered in white, and the rapidly falling snow created what, to my eyes, looked like delicate lace. I saw photographic potential and went inside to grab the camera.

The strong diagonal lines created by that stately oak are what I used to anchor this largely geometric image.

In Local News

Hanging in the Balance
A decision is expected this month regarding the fate of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been ordered to determine whether or not to delist the bears by January 20th.

Wyoming, Montana and Idaho have been chomping at the bit to lift protections. If that occurs, trophy hunting comes next: killing for fun.

The states are adamant that they will do a better job managing the animals than the Federal Government. I'm not naive enough to think either side wears white hats; there are plenty of bad actors to go around, both in Washington and locally. In this matter, however, the states have demonstrated they cannot and should not be trusted.

Consider this: when wolves were delisted, hunting decimated some of the packs in Yellowstone. During the winter of 2022, one pack was eliminated entirely. That kill was described as "catastrophic." The following winter - last year - was the third deadliest for wolves since they were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995. The mortalities that season dissolved three packs.

After delisting, Montana extended the hunting season, okayed the use of bait to lure wolves out of protected areas, authorized aerial hunting, and legalized night hunting with bright lights (which disorients the animals).

In Wyoming last winter, people terrorized and tortured wolves, chasing them and running them over with snow machines. One particularly twisted individual, after running a wolf down and seriously injuring it, duct taped her mouth shut and took her into a bar for further torture before finally killing her. What kind of person does that?

It has been carnage.

This is how the states in question manage wildlife, and this is what awaits grizzlies should they be removed from the endangered list.

If, like me, you feel the bears should remain protected, please make your voice heard by writing the two women listed below. Time is of the essence. The links to email contact forms for each are included. If you prefer to telephone, follow the links; the numbers are listed on those contact pages.

Thank you in advance.

Deb Haaland
Secretary of the Interior
Email

Martha Williams
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director
Email