PH - Britain's Best Landscape Photographer



"Paul Saunders" <[email protected]> wrote...
> Given the Colin Prior discussion, if CP isn't the best, then who is?


How do you define "Landscape Photographer"?
For example, is a "Mountain Photographer", i.e. someone who takes
photos of individual mountains, or someone whose main object is
to show walkers in a mountain environment, one?

Tony Simpkins
 
SteveO wrote:

>> Given the Colin Prior discussion, if CP isn't the best, then who is?

>
> I'm confused, I thought you were suggesting PH is/was, who on earth is
> it anyway?


Ha! I was using PH to indicate that this is a PHotography thread! As
suggested by someone a short while back. I didn't use a colon because
Phil Cook pointed out a long time ago that some newsreaders don't
process them properly and split the thread.

Anyway, I don't think anyone officially *IS* Britain's best landscape
photographer. As ever, this is just a matter of personal opinion. I'm
just curious to hear what people's opinions are.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
 
On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 20:51:47 -0000, "Paul Saunders"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Given the Colin Prior discussion, if CP isn't the best, then who is?



Keep up at the back! It's Mike Reid!

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Tony Simpkins wrote:

> How do you define "Landscape Photographer"?
> For example, is a "Mountain Photographer", i.e. someone who takes
> photos of individual mountains, or someone whose main object is
> to show walkers in a mountain environment, one?


Well obviously this is open to interpretation, but I'd say that a
landscape photographer is someone who's primary subject matter is the
landscape.

I'd disallow "nature" photography, i.e. someone who specialises in
close-up photos of flowers, or or telephoto shots of wildlife. I'd also
disallow photography of towns and cities, I don't really consider those
to be landscapes, unless the angle of view is fairly wide and shows the
urban area in the context of the surrounding land.

As for walkers in a mountain pic, there's nothing wrong with having the
odd walker here and there in a landscape photo (not my preference, but
still), although if the walkers are repeatedly the main subject matter
and the landscape takes second place, then I wouldn't really count that.
There's a difference between a landcape with a walker in it (usually
quite small and looking away from the camera) and photo of a walker with
a landscape behind him (usually quite large and looking toward the
camera).

Anyway, let's not be too rigid about this, I think most people
understand what a landscape photographer is. People are not usually
included, although they are optional.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
 
"Paul Saunders" <[email protected]> wrote

> Given the Colin Prior discussion, if CP isn't the best, then who is?
> I'm interested to hear who the contenders are in the opinions of this
> group.


Are non photographers who don't know what they're talking about allowed to
vote? If so I'm voting for Mike Reid, who as per the other thread, whips
both Colin Prior and Joe Cornish's asses for my money. Who else is there?
 
On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 21:46:51 -0000, "AndyP"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"Paul Saunders" <[email protected]> wrote
>
>> Given the Colin Prior discussion, if CP isn't the best, then who is?
>> I'm interested to hear who the contenders are in the opinions of this
>> group.

>
>Are non photographers who don't know what they're talking about allowed to
>vote? If so I'm voting for Mike Reid, who as per the other thread, whips
>both Colin Prior and Joe Cornish's asses for my money. Who else is there?
>



There's Paul S himself, but most of his stuff is milky waterfalls or
else has been faked in Photoshop.
I've also voted for Mike*.




* Make the cheque to cash.

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In message <[email protected]>, Rooney
<[email protected]> writes
>On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 21:46:51 -0000, "AndyP"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>"Paul Saunders" <[email protected]> wrote
>>
>>> Given the Colin Prior discussion, if CP isn't the best, then who is?
>>> I'm interested to hear who the contenders are in the opinions of this
>>> group.

>>
>>Are non photographers who don't know what they're talking about allowed to
>>vote? If so I'm voting for Mike Reid, who as per the other thread, whips
>>both Colin Prior and Joe Cornish's asses for my money. Who else is there?
>>

>
>
>There's Paul S himself, but most of his stuff is milky waterfalls or
>else has been faked in Photoshop.
>I've also voted for Mike*.
>

I'm not saying he's the best but I'm surprised no one has mentioned Ian
Evans:

http://www.mountain-images.co.uk
 
AndyP wrote:

> Are non photographers who don't know what they're talking about
> allowed to vote?


Absolutely! You don't have to understand anything about photography to
know whether you like a photo or not. In fact, the opinions of
non-photographers may be in some ways more honest or unbiased than those
of photographers, who may be influenced by understanding the techniques
involved, so they don't judge a photo purely on what it looks like, but
on rules and other stuff.

> If so I'm voting for Mike Reid, who as per the
> other thread, whips both Colin Prior and Joe Cornish's asses for my
> money. Who else is there?


To be honest, I haven't been keeping up in recent years, so I don't know
the current state of play. I've always like Charlie Waite and Paul
Wakefield. I asked a friend yesterday and he pointed out John Cleare,
Dave Newbould and a few others that I wasn't familiar with (and so
forget their names, oops!).

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
 
"Chris Townsend" <[email protected]> wrote

> >

> I'm not saying he's the best but I'm surprised no one has mentioned

Ian Evans
>:
>
> http://www.mountain-images.co.uk
>
>


Yep, superb - but that's only 'cos he's got a good camera and anyway
his pics are not as good as mine ;-)

Nicely designed, generous website as well.

Tony Simpkins
 
"Paul Saunders" <[email protected]> wrote

>
> As for walkers in a mountain pic, there's nothing wrong with having
> the odd walker here and there in a landscape photo (not my

preference,
> but still), although if the walkers are repeatedly the main subject
> matter and the landscape takes second place, then I wouldn't really

count
> that. There's a difference between a landcape with a walker in it

(usually
> quite small and looking away from the camera) and photo of a walker
> with a landscape behind him (usually quite large and looking toward

the
> camera).
>


Often figures in a landscape 'make' the picture - it would be empty
and pointless without them. Have a look at the photos of the Mont
Blanc Massif by Pierre Tairraz. Some of his best ones, incidentally,
are in monochrome and portrait format.

Tony Simpkins
 
Tony Simpkins wrote:

> Often figures in a landscape 'make' the picture -


I don't disagree, but as I said, a figure in a landscape is not the same
as a picture of a walker with a landscape in the background.

> it would be empty
> and pointless without them.


Sorry but I strongly disagree with that. Most landscape photographs
don't have people in them and there's nothing empty or pointless about
them. Some photos that are particularly lacking in foreground interest
may benefit, but that's exception rather than the rule. People are in
no way compulsory in a landscape photograph.

> Have a look at the photos of the Mont
> Blanc Massif by Pierre Tairraz. Some of his best ones, incidentally,
> are in monochrome and portrait format.


Where would I find these? If Pierre tends to include people in most of
his shots, then maybe that's just his style, but it's certainly not the
style of most landscape photographers. Again, if they are just an
element within the landscape, that's fine.

Anyway, let's not get obsessed with definitions here, who do you think
is the best British landscape photographer?

French photographers who photograph the Alps definitely do not count!
:)

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
 
Chris Townsend wrote:

> I'm not saying he's the best but I'm surprised no one has mentioned
> Ian Evans:


Never heard of him, I'll check him out later, thanks for the link.

So, so far we've got (in no particular order)

Colin Prior
Joe Cornish
Ian Evans
Charlie Waite
Paul Wakefield
John Cleare
Dave Newbould

I'll also mention Walter Poucher who was once considered to be Britain's
best mountain photographer, and also Derry Brabbs, who I never liked
much but seemed to be quite popular.

Any more? (You don't really want me to include urw photographers, do
you Rooney?)

And what about Les Wossname? Is he an amateur or pro?

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
 
On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 00:20:22 -0000, "Paul Saunders"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Rooney wrote:
>
>>> Given the Colin Prior discussion, if CP isn't the best, then who is?

>>
>> Keep up at the back! It's Mike Reid!

>
>Are you being serious here?


No - just alluding to the earlier thread! (Sorry, Mike).

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On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 00:26:53 -0000, "Paul Saunders"
<[email protected]> wrote:


>Any more? (You don't really want me to include urw photographers, do
>you Rooney?)


Ha ha! No.
I wouldn't include Poucher. Sure, his photos are good, but not class
leaders.

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In message <[email protected]>, Paul Saunders
<[email protected]> writes
>Chris Townsend wrote:
>
>> I'm not saying he's the best but I'm surprised no one has mentioned
>> Ian Evans:

>
>Never heard of him, I'll check him out later, thanks for the link.
>
>So, so far we've got (in no particular order)
>
>Colin Prior
>Joe Cornish
>Ian Evans
>Charlie Waite
>Paul Wakefield
>John Cleare
>Dave Newbould
>
>I'll also mention Walter Poucher who was once considered to be Britain's
>best mountain photographer, and also Derry Brabbs, who I never liked
>much but seemed to be quite popular.
>
>Any more? (You don't really want me to include urw photographers, do
>you Rooney?)
>
>And what about Les Wossname? Is he an amateur or pro?


Fay Godwin, whose Landmarks book is wonderful

http://www.djclark.com/godwin/

Jon Sparks, author of the Cicerone Press guide to Outdoor Photography

http://owg.org.uk/js/

Tony West

http://www.tonywestphoto.co.uk


My favourite UK photographer is Doug Scott, but his images don't include
many from Britain.