Norm Powell (napowell30d)'s photostream  

April 19, 2011

It has been exactly two years since I decided to take up photography seriously as a hobby and figured a profile update was in order.

When I began this quest, I was, as many do starting out, exploring all types of photography, from sports to landscapes and nature, street photography and about anything else you could imagine. After many months of this meandering, I decided that I would never really get anywhere without a specific style or ‘point of view’. From there I could establish a specific bent that would be more reflective of my own exact tastes. This desire to establish a style started me looking at many examples of the work of others and shooting more targeted images primarily of landscapes as this had been an interest when I worked with film in the 1980’s and figured it was a good place to start. As I looked at the work of others and examined my own I started to notice specific characteristics that repeatedly showed up in my work as well as work that I enjoyed but did not know how to define it or what to call it.

While wandering around on the Internet one day, I happened upon an article on the 1975 exhibition at the George Eastman House entitled, ‘New Topographics – Photographs of a Man-altered Landscape’ and was finally able to put a name and specific characteristics to the style of photography I enjoyed viewing and shooting. Briefly stated, this type of photography favors landscapes, often taken from an elevated perspective, which shows the impact of man on the environment and are generally produced with minimal manipulation.

After additional study on this genre, I am at this point beginning to establish a more specific approach within this stylistic wheelhouse.

I also struggled with black and white versus color and finally decided to examine the photograph and let it decide which it should be. It may sound strange but it is true and works.

I retired at the end of 2008 and am fortunate to be able to pursue photography full time and without the financial pressure that would compel me to do anything other than what I want to do, photographically speaking.

While New Topographics is at the heart of my stylistic pursuits, I will still on occasion go after any ‘found object’ that piques my interest.

I recently migrated from Photoshop Elements 8 plus Silver Efex Pro 2/Viveza 2/Photomatix to Lightroom and Photoshop CS5 plus Silver Efex Pro 2/Viveza 2/Color Efex Pro 3/Photomatix. As a result, I am busily perfecting revised workflows to go with this new software. It has been an interesting experience so far.

I am open to being contacts with anyone and everyone as I feel that the best way to improve is to see and be seen.


Memberships

Michigan Barn Preservation Network
Saatchi Online