A Sense of Place Redux

(© Ian Plant) Last year I posted an article called A Sense of Place, which discussed our mission as nature photographers to find the unique magic of a place, to reduce it to its essence, and to capture it with our cameras so that we may share it with others. I think this is a very important topic, so important that it is worth bringing up again from time to time as a reminder!

During a recent trip to the Scottish coast, I admit I got a bit obsessed with finding some trophy shots. One evening, however, I decided I was going to focus on where I was, instead of trying to find epic scenery. I needed to pay attention to the unique beauty right in front of me, rather than chasing mighty sea arches and overwhelming light.

To me, the beauty of the remote Scottish coast lay in its rolling green pastures and stony cliffs rising above turbulent waters. So I looked for a composition that included all three critical elements, in order to paint a picture of this unique land. When I found this erratic boulder, I knew I had the right stuff to tell the landscape’s story.

So no matter where you are, pay attention to the place, and do your best to discern what makes it different from other locations. If you can inject a sense of place into your photos, you’ll walk away with images that tell a story, and establish an emotional connection with viewers.

Check out my article in this month’s OP called Break Free From Your Comfort Zone.

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