Of all the subject matter photographed by people, the compostitons and techniques used in landscape photography have had the most influnce from classical painting.

Light

At it’s visual essence, landscape photography is a statement of light. Light illuminates, thereby defineing space. Without strong, dramatic (dramatic does not always always bright) light, landscape paintings – and photographs – will suffer.

More Paintings by Albert Bierstadt

Landscape Photography in America

Like all photography, (and like all art) images are a reflection of the people and ideas of their time. Landscape photography reached is full development in America during the second half of the 1800’s. The ideas and sprit of exploration and settlement was reflected in the photographs of many American Landscape photograpers. Timothy O’Sullivanand Edward Weston most notably photographed the westward expansion of the United States. Landscape photography of the era was a direct and literal expression of America’s new concept of ‘owning’ land. To photograph landscapes was an expression of conquest and ownership, that very much supported the national ideals in the late 1800’s.

Edward Weston

Class Reading: Chapter #4

Assignment: Photo-assignment4.pdf