Realistic Versus Interpretive Photos
Most outdoor photos, especially landscape shots, are pretty straightforward. They portray their subjects realistically and from perspectives that are familiar to the viewer.
Other pictures take a more interpretive or impressionistic approach through exaggerated perspective, depth of field, and other techniques. These pictures are less about documenting specific information about a subject and more about conveying a mood or feeling about it. Objects may be recognizable, or they may be taken in ways that isolate specific facets or details that tell you more about the subject than about its surroundings.
Sunlit buildings against a blue sky make beautiful pictures. To get deep blue skies and bright white buildings with no loss of highlight detail, expose using the sunny sixteen rule. Set the shutter speed to your film's ISO and the f-stop to f/16. If the sun is particularly bright, stop down to f/22. Deep shadows will go black under these circumstances, but that's in keeping with the contrasting mood of the subjects.
Both approaches have a place in outdoor photography. Most photographers find that shooting a mixture of realistic and interpretive pictures is a great deal more enjoyable than sticking to one style or approach exclusively. The great thing about outdoor photography is that nearly every subject you shoot will lend itself to both approaches in some way.
Digital photographers and film photographers who scan their images into digital programs can take even more license with the artistic and impressionistic approach. They can take advantage of the digital darkroom's ability to apply filters that give the appearance of fine art images. These filters can mimic watercolors, oil paintings, and pastel effects. Applied with a deft touch they can be really stunning. Get accustomed to seeing the big picture as well as nature's more finite brushstrokes, and you'll never run out of great subjects to shoot.
FIGURE 14-4 At first glance, this interpretive photo may seem to be about the window, but in actuality it is about the trees reflected in the window glass that create interesting patterns and shapes.
