Light on the Landscape: Photographs and Lessons from a Life in Photography

See the images and read the stories behind the creative process of one of America’s most respected landscape photographers, William Neill.

For more than two decades, William Neill has been offering his thoughts and insights about photography and the beauty of nature in essays that cover the techniques, business, and spirit of his photographic life. Curated and collected here for the first time, and accompanying 128 beautiful reproductions of Neill's photographs, these essays are both pragmatic and profound, offering readers an intimate look behind the scenes at Neill’s creative process behind individual photographs as well as a discussion of the larger and more foundational topics that are key to his philosophy and approach to work.

Drawing from the tradition of behind-the-scenes books like Ansel Adams’ Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs and Galen Rowell’s Mountain Light: In Search of the Dynamic Landscape, Light on the Landscape covers in detail the core photographic fundamentals such as light, composition, camera angle, and exposure choices, but it also deftly considers those subjects that are less frequently examined: portfolio development, marketing, printmaking, nature stewardship, inspiration, preparation, self-improvement, and more. The result is a profound and wide-ranging exploration of that magical convergence of light, land, and camera.

Filled with beautiful and inspiring photographs, Light on the Landscape is also full of the kind of wisdom that only comes from a deeply thoughtful photographer who has spent a lifetime communicating with a camera. Incorporating the lessons within the book, you too can learn to achieve not only technically excellent and beautiful images, but photographs that truly rise above your best and reveal your deeply personal and creative perspective—your vision, your voice.

ISBN-13: 9781681985749

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Rocky Nook

Publication Date: 08-25-2020

Pages: 288

Product Dimensions: 10.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.90(d)

William Neill is a landscape photographer who conveys the deep, spiritual beauty he sees and feels in nature. His photography has been widely published in books, magazines, and posters. His limited-edition prints have been collected and exhibited in museums and galleries nationally, including the Museum of Fine Art Boston, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, The Vernon Collection, and The Polaroid Collection. Assignments and published credits include National Geographic, Smithsonian, Natural History, National Wildlife, Conde Nast Traveler, Gentlemen’s Quarterly, Travel and Leisure, Wilderness, Sunset, Sierra, and Outside magazines. Since 1997, he has been a regular columnist for Outdoor Photographer magazine. His work has been published in numerous books, including 2017’s William Neill—Photographer, A Retrospective, a collection of photographs taken over the past forty years. He has been a resident of the Yosemite National Park area since 1977.

Table of Contents

Preface

Landscapes for My Spirit: Why I Photograph

Landscape Essentials: My Top Reasons for Photographic Success

Landscape Lighting Basics: Where is the Light?

Light on the Landscape: Become a Student of Light

The Intimate Landscape: Finding My Personal Vision

Ride the Light!: It’s All about the Light, and Designing for It

Interpretation and Refinement: Releasing the Shutter is Only the Beginning

Pushing Boundaries: High-Key Experiments

Focused: Find Your Passion, Develop Depth, Edit Tightly

Practice and Work: An Editorial Assignment Led to Personal Expression

On the Horizon: Considering Where to Place the Horizon Line

Creation: Portraying our Evolving Planet

Seeking Images: Seeing Beyond the Icons

The Edge of Light: Use Contrast to Create Striking, Graphic Images

Whispers in the Fog: A Mantra for Making Clean, Clear Photographs

Becoming Creative: Find Your Unique Perspective

Environmental Conservation: Make a Difference with Your Photographs

Immersion Course: Commit to Exploring Your Favorite Locations in Depth

Water, Water Everywhere: Persistence is a Key Element of the Creative Process

Desert Elements: Earth’s Bare Bones Revealed

Field of Possibilities: Solving Focus Problems in the Field

Focus Your Fall Portfolio: Work with a Theme to Create a Unique Collection of Images

What the Road Passes By: There’s More to a Landscape than an Iconic Vantage Point

Using the Frame: See the Photograph as a Whole

Aspen Variations: Allow Your Interpretation to Grow and Evolve

My Vacation: Balancing Family Time and Making Art

A Sense of Scale: Size Relationships Tell a Story

Versatility: Reach Out to Explore

Winter’s Grace: The Hushed Solitude of Photography in Snow

Impressions of Light: Create Artistic Blurs In-Camera

Meditations in Black and White: Open Yourself Up to New Avenues of Creativity

The Magic Element: Emotion: Let Your Heart Show the Way

Simplicity Is the Key: Keys to Clean Design

Getting Out of a Rut: Break Away from Your Usual Subject Matter

Best of the Year: Review Your Images to Find New

Directions to Explore

Last Light: Revisiting the Key Themes in Your Photography

Morning Light: When You Have Your Camera with You, Good Luck Tends to Happen

The Intimate Detail: Making an Image of Magic and Mystery

Macro Magic: Find Nature’s Secrets in the World of the Very Small

Going with the Flow: Work Your Subject for the Perfect Photograph

Separation of Tones: Create Separation of Tones to Coax Nuances Out of Your Images

On the Way Home: Always on the Lookout

Spring in the Canyon: Always Try to Improve

Photographs for the Spirit: Making Images for Healing Environments

A Short Walk in a New England Wood: Notice the World Around You

Improving Your Portfolio: Build Depth Around Focused Themes to Create a Broad Body of Work

Antarctic Dreams: Moving Out of My Comfort Zone

Need to Know: Avoid Tech Overload—Be In the Moment

Variations on a Theme: Sometimes Your First Inclination Isn’t the Only Possibility

Processing Magic: Long-Term Artistic Goals

Winter Etchings: Tune Into the Graphic, Elegant Starkness of the Season

The Space Between: Watch All the Elements in Your Frame

Aspects of the Landscape: Explore New Aspect Ratios

Whispers and Shouts: What Do You Want Your Images to Say?

Of Abstract Nature: Find Creative Inspiration by Focusing on Details

Dealing with Depth: Creating Images with Extended Depth of Field and Sharpness

Patience and Persistence: Getting a Photo “Right” Takes Time

A Dance on the Beach: Focus on the Fundamentals

Celebrating Wilderness Photographer

Philip Hyde: Acknowledging Our Roots

Stories: Write about Your Photography to Become a More Powerful Storyteller

Technical Notes

Photograph Information

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