Expressive Photography: Celebrating Water

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THE VIDEO:
Water is possibly the most important element in photography. It makes up 60% of the human body and covers 71% of our planet's surface. We flock to it for recreation; swimming in it, fishing in it and of course photographing it. We complain when it falls as rain ruining our days out, but celebrate when it puts out a forest fire.
Children scream with joy as they slide down snow slopes, and parents complain when they have to shovel it from their yard.
Ice brings terror on the roads, but joy in a glass of Scotch.
We have a very interesting relationship with water.
In this video I celebrate water in all its photographic forms; from fog, to flowing and then ice. Each form has its character, feeling and emotional consequence.
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Photography: Alister Benn
Video Production: Ann Kristin Lindaas
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[@borissmit7112]

Water is by miles my favourite subject. If it is frozen or falling or mist (clouds in Norway) I am loving it.

[@nickshepherd8377]

Love the 3D lattice ice👍👍👍

[@Alister_Benn]

Yeah, that’s a favourite of mine too

[@susanfirth2279]

Nice patterns in the ice and what a difference when it is flipped. Never thought of doing that. Looking forward to part 2 with Mr. Gibbs. Stay safe.

[@regannealephotography]

Your ice shots look like they could be Radiohead album covers

[@hugoparente1908]

The last one is intriguing.

[@lennartphotography]

Amazing photographs 🙏👌

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks, much appreciated

[@PedroDVC]

Awesome work!

[@georgefrench1907]

Inspiring. Thank you.

[@jennifercrouse]

Stunning images, the background music is perfect. I love rotating images to decide which direction is most pleasing. I've always been fascinated by how our brains seek patterns and to assign meaning. My mother first explained it to me when I was a little girl and afraid of the monster on the bathroom door. It had interesting wood grain that definitely looked like a troll about to attack. I think it was the first time I ever thought about the process of thinking. I still didn't like the door, but I wasn't afraid of it anymore. 😄

[@dmac5x1]

Beautiful images, great discussion !

[@brycepinson8641]

Once I started shooting large format I began learning more about shape and composition as you describe here, because the image on the ground glass is flipped vertically and horizontally. So I see the image more in terms of shape and patterns. Great shots and probably the least obvious shots you could have taken in that area.

[@Alister_Benn]

Yes, exactly, when we look through the ground glass we are not seeing reality. It gives such an effective lesson in visual perception. Thanks for the great feedback.

[@aengus1948]

Hi Alister - only you could make a photo of water look good !!

[@Alister_Benn]

Ha, thanks so very much

[@howardrankin7119]

Interesting discussion of balance and energy, and what a difference flipping the images made.....Fine photos

[@hbphotos]

Love all the images you showed in this video. Real masterpieces from master himself.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so very much

[@robinmartin1356]

Thanks you sharing such beautiful images. I love the ice images ❤️ but the little waterfall was awesome when you flipped it.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks. Such a tiny anonymous little thing too

[@Spergel007]

Just came home from phorographing a half frozen waterfall in the snow to see the notification for the new video.

[@1961Duane314]

I do a similar method on a reduced size. Macros look real cool of ice and have shot a lot of ice since the close of Autumn. Ice makes for some mesmerizing Images great vlog.

[@hughwolfe1176]

Alister you’re continually amazing me with your attention to the minutiae, fascinating stuff... BTW has anyone ever mentioned that you look like the comedian George Carlin. I remember his bits where he would appear all in black, probably a way of drawing attention to his facial expressions as well as hand movements... Anyway keep doing exactly what your doing as I find it most interesting.

[@courtenaysly3280]

Breathtaking ice images! I appreciate this conversation about seeking order...especially today in the chaos of the USA. Thank you!!

[@Alister_Benn]

You are so welcome! Yeah, for sure,

[@darrelltheriault5793]

I find your comment regarding one of the images you posted to social media as being “surprisingly popular” quite revealing. I interpret this to reflect much about the motivation for your art and I find myself adopting much the same approach as I take images. It is a very refreshing and liberating approach and one that, perhaps surprisingly does not come about a naturally, at least for me, as one might imagine. Pursuing art which brings joy or reflects beauty on my own terms is infinitely easier and more satisfying than attempting to interpret what “ others” might like. It also leads to a a more honest and consistent output. Thanks for helping me to take control of my work.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks. I really appreciate your comment and feedback.

[@janeqol438]

Nice work Alister!! Winter opens up a whole new world. Been getting some lovely Hair Frost shots with the cold weather. Take care both 💜

[@Alister_Benn]

Hi Jane. Yes, I’m envious of your snow

[@rebeccamoore4177]

Flipping the image was eye opening. I will be trying this on more of my images. Fascinating!

[@AndrewCooperPhotography]

As you created the images horizontally it is very interesting to see how a 90 degree rotation alters the dynamics, add to that a further "flip" and the images flow differently. this was something that had never occured to me with an inanimate object. Thanks

[@Alister_Benn]

I embrace 3 dimensional space 😀 I’m so interested in the change in feel as we move things around

[@davet3530]

Really enjoyed this. Thank you. I have had similar experiences in looking at detail in nature by using a macro lens, I love the way that nature and the mind can interplay to reveal an image that you don’t immediately see.

[@Hirsutechin]

Grand stuff, Alister, and thanks for giving time to appreciate the images again at the end. :-)

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks mate, thanks to Ann for putting the videos together so beautifully

[@morbly]

Flipping the images really does cause a dramatic shift from the original perspective, but having a moment to forget the initial orientation also reduces my bias and I no longer feel that tension in the same way.

[@Alister_Benn]

I’m really interested in the psychology of visual design

[@keithpinn152]

Hi Alister: This was a very interesting video. It is truly amazing how nature can be so chaotic and orderly at the same time. While I have flipped some images within LR to get a new perspective of the image, I am not comfortable yet with this process. I guess for small intimate landscapes it could be acceptable but for large identifiable landscapes are we moving into the world of AI? Keep well. Cheers, Keith

[@Alister_Benn]

Absolutely it’s for small anonymous scenes! We can’t go flipping Yosemite or other well known places 😃

[@nevillethorogood3639]

Incredible images Alister, very inspiring .

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so much mate

[@JamesLanePhoto]

Beautiful images, Alister. I really enjoyed listening to you discuss them.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks James for watching, and thanks for the kind comment.

[@runninblue9415]

AI. The internet. Tesla. It's all good stuff but we still haven't caught up with mother nature yet. And you've conveyed it beautifully 👌

[@Alister_Benn]

Beautiful sentiment

[@MarcKoetse]

Funny, the photo around 13m. I would probably shoot it the way you presented it initially and not the other way around. I actually always make images in this way/direction (with the heavy bit on the left hand side). I wonder if that has to do with my left handedness. In the end I flip them because indeed people tend to digest them better that way... (Including myself eventually).

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks for that. Absolutely, you’ve hit the nail on the head.

[@mollyanderson449]

Beautiful images! I’ve been wanting to explore and experiment with ice/frozen elements as there is a fragility to them that I can really identify with, but sadly it’s not a condition that exists in my local area. Thank you for sharing and allowing others to enjoy!

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks Molly, I really appreciate the comment. All our ice and snow has gone (lots of rain)

[@tjsinva]

❄🥶👍🥂

[@Alister_Benn]

Says it all :-)

[@naturalimagingcreatives2425]

re: flipping so the 'calm' part of the image is on the left ... has me thinking ... might it have anything to do with our minds having a preference for reading (e.g. written text) from left to right .. ?

[@CWReace]

When you did the left/right flip of the ice crystals, I suddenly saw a snarling face looking out at me from the top right. Wonder why I didn't see that before the flip?

[@Alister_Benn]

This is a known thing, we become blind to areas in the frame because they are not in our main checking zone. Always good to flip and explore

[@ThorarinnJonsson]

Love the video mate but calling this a waterfall ........ hmmmm :)

[@Alister_Benn]

HAHAHA!! point taken 😂😂😂

[@wrmarhoffer]

@@Alister_Benn A cascade? A cataract? Or perhaps simply "white water"??