How to Really Look At Nature Photography
In the age of the internet, we are accustomed to seeing photographs almost constantly. From Facebook posts to images on billboards to computer screensavers, we are bombarded by images. We see these images, but are we really looking?
The world’s oldest surviving photograph was shot by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826. The grainy image, titled "View from the Window at Le Gras," features a barely recognizable view of rooftops in a French village. At the time the image was created, imagine what an incredible experience it must have been to see the world reflected back in a photograph for the very first time. Today, the average American takes over 1,000 photos a year on their phone. In Niépce’s time, that would have been unfathomable. In the age of Instagram, how can we slow down and truly look at photography? This was a question we explored last week.
Last week, Nature Links participants spent time looking at nature photography. We focused on observing nature photography through a practice that forced us to really take our time and look more deeply at the image in front of us. Many of the photos, published by National Geographic, featured animals (or even people) impacted by climate change or habitat loss. Some captured imagery that had never been seen before and most were published in order to help viewers gain insight, information and awareness about the the need to work harder to protect our planet and her creatures.
Here is the protocol we used to look at nature photographs in our classes…
Observe- Without talking, we first spent time silently looking at the photograph. We tried our best to notice shapes, colors and composition without making assumptions about what we saw. We’re often quick to jump to conclusions about images, so much so that we don’t notice the nuances of the way the light hits at a particular angle or a person or animal in the background. Silently looking for thirty seconds to a minute allowed us each to to take a breath, tune out the rest of the world and truly look.
Explain- Next we attempted to explain what we saw. Not only was this a way to narrate the photograph for low vision or blind participants in our group, but it was also a way to objectively describe the people or objects in the photograph. “I see an animal and a human” is a very different statement from “I see a loving connection between an animal and a human”. We tried to force ourselves to describe without making assumptions or judgment. This can be difficult to do!
Ask questions- Step three was everyone’s favorite. Nature Links participants are inherently curious and thirsty for knowledge. Not surprisingly, our group came up with a LOT of questions. Who is taking the photograph? Is the animal being harmed or helped? What are the people carrying? These very astute questions were a direct result of the time we had taken earlier to slow down and make observations. The best questions come as a result of withholding assumptions for as long as possible.
Interpret- Finally, after we had silently observed, objectively described and asked as many questions as possible, the story behind the photograph was revealed at last. Participants learned about when and where the photos were taken and many were able to confirm answers to the questions they had asked previously. But we found that after truly looking and engaging with these impactful photographs, we had formed a connection with them that allowed us to see them more clearly.
Photography can have the power to influence politics and culture and make us relate differently and more thoughtfully to the world around us. Nature photography, especially, can provide us an intimate view into the fragility and beauty of our beloved planet and its inhabitants. It can pull us right out of the monotony of our busy lives full of Instagram posts and billboard images so that we can stop and appreciate the world around us… but only if we truly look.
