reaction paper 5

One cannot help but notice the gently falling water that creates a sense of calm as it appears to slowly billow down.

I see the unique looking tree standing tall over the home and property as though it is protecting it and its occupants.

I chose the work of Carleton Watkins because I enjoy the style of photography he achieves. In many ways, his style is much like my style; beautiful, yet simple. A great deal of his work is so serene. This tells me that he was fond of tranquility and had a desire to share it with his viewers. Since many of his viewers could not experience the subjects firsthand, Watkins made photographs documenting subjects from different points of view in order to give viewers the sense that they too were at that location. Through Watkins’ photography, he helped influence Congress to establish Yosemite as a National Park in order to protect its vast beauty so that others could reap the benefit of his subject for many years to come.

During the latter years of his career, Watkins' fortunes declined. After spending lavishly and along with the banking crisis of the late 1800s, he was forced to turn over his gallery and entire stock of negatives to a creditor. Eventually, he married and had two children with his wife and started a new series of photography. Even so, he remained poor and even had to live in an abandoned boxcar with his wife and children. In the end, his studio and negatives were lost in a San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire. I have concluded, with parts of his life otherwise not so composed, one way he could accomplish peace was through the art of photography.

Since many would consider their land and home their constant and most tranquil location, I have chosen to document my property. Specifically, I have documented the splendor of color on the property and/or the detail produced with a shallow depth of field. I have always had a love of the autumn colors that the leaves display so, as part of this project, I have attempted to capture this in order to share it with my viewers. As mentioned previously, I really like having a shallow depth of field; I appreciate the features that a close up exposes. Everything from the way the bark is peeling, to the veins on the leaves, to the vivid colors, or how a branch is hugging another; each of these provides detail. Another bit of detail I like is using my subjects as a natural border. In addition to the intricate detail, I like the balance that it creates within the photo.

In other photography of mine, as an example, I have documented the beauty of the Caribbean in order to share what many others may never see. Or, maybe by my sharing, I will provide enough encouragement that they will explore the beauty for themselves just as Watkins attempted with his viewers.