I have this great fondness for Mount Rainier. It is the landscape that I grew up with and the view of it southeast of Seattle inspires me to this day. It is hard to miss—an unbelievable landscape rising abruptly from sea level to 14,000 feet. This shining, white mountain has always loomed above and beyond Seattle, both unsettling in its latent volcanic power and awesome in its beauty.
It was the allure of the mountain that got me to Mount Rainier early in my life. I’ve climbed the mountain several times over the years, but I visit at least a couple times a year to photograph its magnificence and get grounded. I’m motivated to inspire people—to uplift people—and I find mountain imagery does that. I also love to turn people on to things that have excited me in the past; with Mount Rainier it is very easy to do.
From any different angle Mount Rainier presents a perfect and amazing landscape. I love that fact that it is often shrouded in mist, and as the day changes the mountain just comes out of nowhere. The mists themselves are great subjects as moisture and light and hidden forests give rise to clearing skies. It is a subject that is never boring and often entertaining.
In mid-August monkey flowers are flourishing along the small streams that come down from the snow fields above. There’s western anemone, lupine, beautiful paintbrush, and asters. As you are fully engaged photographing the details of the landscapes you’re likely to see animals pop up as it is an environment that is rich for wildlife. There are foxes that live up in there as well as black bears; mountain goats often come off the barren slopes and cross the mountain valleys. Martens, marmots, jays, squirrels, chipmunks and pikas are all up there waiting to be discovered.
Down in the old growth forests a whole new range of subjects reveal themselves—from the beautiful details of the old growth trees to the fungus that start to come out in the early fall to the beautiful oak ferns, oxalis and hellebore. If we are lucky we may see some forest animals as well. Ptarmigan and grouse make that zone home, but deer pass through the forests as well as spotted owls, barred owls, and calliope hummingbirds. It’s all part of the experience of photographing in what is a rich, accessible environment.
I always look forward to returning to Mount Rainier, and I definitely love to share it with people who have never been.
Art Wolfe Rainier Workshop August 22-24, 2014
Click HERE for all the information or to register
We’ve teamed up with Gura Gear to give away a Gura Gear Bataflae Pack System and two other winners will also receive a copy of The Art of the Photograph, one signed. Enter with the Rafflecopter below. Increase your chances of winning by completing all the options. Good luck!
The new international photography competition, USA Landscape Photographer of the Year, launched by the world-renowned photographer Charlie Waite at the end of 2013, will close for entries on the 17th of April, 2014.
The competition is open to all photographers from anywhere in the world, for their images of the rural and urban landscapes of the United States of America.
A highly regarded panel of judges, made up of some of the most prestigious landscape photographers in the USA, such as Art Wolfe, David Muench, Christopher Burkett, Jim Patterson, Tim Fitzharris, Marc Muench, Marc Adamus and Brenda Tharp will review images to determine the overall winner of USA Landscape Photographer of the Year 2014.
The overall winner will be determined on the basis of three images, which can have been entered into any one, or any combination, of the Award Categories:
• Classic View
• Urban Landscape
• Black & White
• Landscape on the Move
• My U.S.A.
There will also be an overall youth winner for the photographer under 21 years of age that enters the strongest three images across the Award Categories. There is a significant prize fund which includes US$5,000 to the overall winner, US$1,000 to category winners and awards in cash, equipment, and mentoring to category and special prize winners.
Details of the competition can be found on the website and winners will be announced in USA Today on the 31st of May, 2014. For more information:
Visit: www.usalandscapephotogheroftheyear.com
Email: info@usalandscapephotographeroftheyear.com
The Power of the Image project Launches in China
Exhibition and Seminars Feature 20 of the World’s Most Influential International Professional Photographers
Beijing, China – April 7, 2014 – On April 25, Beijing’s Temple of Heaven will become the site of one of the most memorable exhibitions of its kind – The Power of the Image. The exhibition will feature more than 200 works by 20 internationally-renowned professional photographers, including Pep Bonet, Michael Crouser, Lauren Greenfield, Peter Guttman, Jocelyn Bain Hogg, Nadav Kander, Frederic LaGrange, Yann Layma, Roman Loranc, Gerd Ludwig, Steve McCurry, Eric Meola, Sylvia Plachy, John Sexton, Matthew Jordan Smith, Eddie Soloway, Art Streiber, Joyce Tenneson, Art Wolfe and Qin Yuhai.
Organized and developed by the Beijing Fuhai Culture Company, Kodak Alaris and supported by the Tencent Website, the “Power of the Image” is hosted by the China Public Relation Association, George Eastman House, and the Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks, Beijing Association of Parks. The multi-faceted program includes the exhibition at the Temple of Heaven from April 25 to May 31 and a host of events, seminars and panel discussions on April 26 – 28, including the April 25 opening and awards ceremony; exhibition of the Life Story of George Eastman; the exhibition “Photography Changed the World”, featuring photographs from the world renowned photography collection at George Eastman House; dialogues with “Power of The Image Award” photographers; and the Workshop of Photographic Preservation and Digital Processing.
“It is a great honor for me to hold this international photographic activity,” said Mr. Cao Jian, chairman of the Beijing Fuhai Culture Company. “As a Chinese who has had the benefit of being involved in the imaging industry for 20 years, I hope to help expose more people to the power of photography as captured by this extraordinary group of professional photography legends and the importance of their images. The birth of photography had a revolutionary effect on the development of world civilization. The unique aspect of photography lies in capturing a glimpse of the real world we live in and recording the truths of that reality. It is my hope that by joining with George Eastman House, Kodak Alaris and the esteemed photographers in the “Power of the Image” project, we will help develop a deeper understanding about photography and photographers who are part of the project.”
Bruce Barnes, director of George Eastman House, said, “We hope to have a continuing partnership with China during this time of tremendous change in the photographic industry. Through traveling exhibitions and international programs, we o fulfill the mission of our museum, which is in part to promote access to and understanding of photography throughout the world. We aim to recognize contemporary artists through exhibitions, awards, and exchanges, and this partnership offers a platform for cultural organizations, photographers, and the public to share the power of photography.”
Images have been used to record and inspire human development; they will continue to have a far-reaching effect on the past, present and future. The award-winning images in the Power of the Image reinforce world peace, the advancement of human civilization, the protection of our environment, and uniquely highlight photography as a way of expression.
The official website of the “Power of the Image” international photographic program was launched March 28 and includes information about the “Power of the Image” agendas, exhibitions, photographers and their photographic works in both Chinese and English. As a media partner of the international photographic activity, Tencent also launched a special edition, featuring a full photographic activity report under its photo channel.
PALOUSE WORKSHOP with Art Wolfe Pullman, Washington
August 15-17, 2014, with an evening reception on August 14th at The Hilltop Hotel.
This three-day course will change the way you look through the lens as well as how you look at your photographs. Art will share the finer points of maximizing early morning and late afternoon light. Field shoots will be at some of the most beautiful locations around the beautiful wheat fields of eastern Washington.
All aspects of outdoor photography will be covered including composition, field techniques, technology, and the unique philosophy of this highly specialized profession. There will be informative lectures, rigorous critiques and portfolio reviews.
Want to do aerial photography? Flight add-on available. Please email info@artwolfe.com.
For more info, or to register for the workshop click HERE.
Show others what you find remarkable in the world & win fabulous prizes for it!
ONE GRAND-PRIZE WINNER will receive:
A DSLR camera
$250 prepaid Amazon gift-card card
A $100 B&H gift card
A signed Art Wolfe photography book
A Photo Group Membership Package (worth $125)
Prominent placement in the winners gallery
