The one thing that is missing from the work of many of today’s best new landscape photographers is pretty simple……it’s the ordinary. Their work is spectacular and I love it, but there comes a time when you have to rest your ego and make some “ordinary” images.  By ordinary, I am talking about less intense color and light. Your followers will not leave you because of it.  Ask David Muench, William Neill or Carr Clifton. They all learned that gentler scenes that everyone can relate to need to be a part of any portfolio.

This location of river and lake has produced an uncountable number of sunrise pictures for me. One or two good sunsets with storm clouds as well. One day I passed by in mid-morning. It seemed a little boring, but I stopped anyway.  The quality of light was not spectacular but it produced an ethereal effect that was…well…different.  Sometimes different is a good thing.

This second image was made at the same location although from a different angle and of course on a different day. I am certainly not suggesting that high impact images like this shouldn’t be a goal, only that there is much to life, and much to nature. We can show it all.

I made this image well after the morning light had weakened. I was walking on this  beach and was simply enjoying the sounds of the waves and the screaming gulls.  I got my feet wet and my thoughts returned to image making.

This shot was made on the same stretch of Illinois beach on a different day. It is colorful and it has impact, but are many different stories to tell.

I‘ve made a lot of images of Morgan Falls in Wisconsin.  It’s a favorite location of mine and usually when I finish here, I enjoy the hike along Morgan Creek back to my car. I am normally so engrossed in the images I just made of the falls, I tend to miss the creek on my return trip. On this day, knowing that I would likely never come back to Morgan Falls, I made a decision to spend some time getting to know the river. Without Morgan Creek there would be no Morgan Falls.  This stretch of river is as much about the rocks that frame its border, as it is about the water. I knew I was making so-called ordinary images, but that is okay.  Everything we do does not have to be spectacular.  The shot below is just a moment of rest for a forest creek. Goodbye to Morgan Falls and the creek that brought it to me for many  years.  Every visit was special.

This is another stretch of river that feeds a series of waterfalls. This is Bond Falls in Michigan and it would be hard not to admit that this is a more powerful picture than the previous one.  A large river rapids framed by autumn colors.  Just the same that less spectacular and quiet little spot on Morgan Creek has a story to tell.

Variety is indeed the spice of life.  Art does not exist only in the vivid reds and yellows, but in every subtle nuance of the rainbow.  Whether complex or minimalist, nature is art from start to finish. We just need to “see” it and affix our own personal vision to it.

I enjoy sharing photographers who are more than just the makers of pictures. Such is the case with Stephan Trimble.  Stephan is an award-winning photographer and author. It is worth the visit to his website to learn about him and what he has accomplished.  His photography has been celebrated for the western landscape, people in nature and the cowboy life. He has also photographed wildlife.  His award-winning writings are both fiction and non-fiction.

I appreciate your patronage, and please stop back,                                                               Wayne