Thank you to NoA organising this, and especially Andris for replying.
very interesting. for a person that's not particularly fond of landscapes i'd like to actually try my hand at some.
@Flashpoint
I guess your right. I'm glad someone is talking about this kind of stuff.
All you've got to do is see how Ansel Adams images effected the US. His images had a huge impact on tourism in North America.
As photographers we should understand what our images are being used for and why.
It's up to the individual to decide.
Isn't most of Fiordland a world heritage park? Most of the SI high country is DOC, and won't be developed. Images that show off the natural beauty of NZ, and enable the country to earn tourist $$ are good news - if nobody knew about these places they would probably end up being turned into dairy farms and more Tiwai Points.
@ mrfinster
Your right, Images that show off the natural beauty of NZ, will enable the country to earn more tourist $$.
We in NZ, have always done this and always will do it.
Social Responsibility for Photographers
There is no right or wrong in this issue.
Just cause and effect.
GOOD, IMAGES SELL. and big business knows this.
When you get to Andris Apse level (NZ photographic Royalty). You should think about why your images are being used and what impact it's having on the place you are photographing. Even if it as minimal as one extra bus on NZ roads.
This doesn't mean he should stop doing it, because someone else will just take his place. I'm glad he's doing it. He's one of the reasons I love photography.
Just look past your camera,
your gear
and the landscape your photographing.
Distinguished Forum Member
Not sure if this is entirely relevant, but I was just chatting to Chrisgin about the AA DVD, and the scary as helicopter flights he took to capture the Fiordland fishing boat picture, and it reminded me of an experience I had down there.
We were walking the Kepler (1999 or 2000 I think) and were at the Luxmore hut after a full day of freezing horizontal rain. You could barely see the hand in front of your face the cloud was so thick. Apparently they were out of toilet paper of all things, and were going to fly some in, but you’d had said it would be impossible to fly in such conditions.
The helicopter duly arrived with the pilot hanging his head out of the open door having found the hut by following the track at tree top height! It was way beyond insane, and for bloody toilet paper! Worse still they brought in a pair of opportunistic trampers who’d been offered a lift when they knew the helicopter was coming in – they were green from a combination of being blown about the sky, and fear.
These people were not experienced trampers and had no rain gear, and I was seriously concerned for their safety the next day – it was cold as you like up on the ridge. I’ve seen worse though – an American woman on the Milford track whose rucksack was half taken up by a posh vanity case with all her makeup. The things we do for fun!
Trevor
flickr pics
That ridge up at Luxmore is scary as when it gets windy.
I was showing Rob a few pics I've got from up there at the weekend, it's a stunning spot. Getting a heli up is taking the piss a bit though! It's not that bad a walk up there, and easy as from that point, as long as its not windy! There's some top fishing spots off that track too.
Distinguished Forum Member
Nearly all the Great Walks are like motorways, (I've done most of the South Island ones). And a nice thing with GWs is the proper flushing toilets - they actually use helicopters to carry out the poo tanks!
Going wildly off topic, has anyone seen Slumdog Millionaire? If you have then you'll know the scene I am thinking about.
Hah. There is a YouTube clip of it, but don't watch this while eating your tea
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlbzeUOW4Bc"]YouTube - Slumdog millionaire Dive in the shit[/ame]
Trevor
flickr pics
Thanks very much for setting this up; insightful.
Big fan of Andris, have all his books. Latest Forest & Bird magazine (Nov) has a fantastic 4 page fold-out of his "Side stream of Wild Natives River, Fiordland National Park".
"When you photograph people in colour you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in B&W, you photograph their souls!" ~Ted Grant
Pentax K-7; 18-55 WR; DA* 50-135.
Very informative... thanks.
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