Vision & Light 25: Talking Creativity with Simon Baxter - Part Two

[@SimonBaxterPhotography]

Thanks again for having me and sharing this conversation Alister. Very enjoyable! Hoping everyone else enjoys it too :)

[@Alister_Benn]

Any time! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@jacktaylor6190]

@@Alister_Benn So did I!

[@Hirsutechin]

You can be sure of that! Most interesting and quite illuminating too. :-)

[@susanfirth2279]

Thoroughly enjoying these conversations.

[@dianevose9655]

Absolutely wonderful conversations between you both, looking forward to part three! 😊🌿🌳

[@renagoodfriend-leve9443]

Of your best interviews!Simon so clearly is able to articulate his deep emotional connection to the landscape .Much appreciate the clean slate and seeing what the landscape uncovers in us emotionally.and Yes loving to there is of the greatest importance .Without that love there is no connection with a landscape or anything in life

[@kathystoner8916]

Thank you Alister for these conversations with Simon. I look forward to exploring his images and I think he really 'gets' your approach towards the expressive and emotional approach to photography. As fond as I am of Thomas, Nick and Adam I think this was one of my favorites of this series.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks Kathy, yes, I really felt Simon and I were on the same page. I enjoyed it very much.

[@ChrisHunt4497]

I love it, thanks. Great, great images from Simon. 👏👏👏👏

[@Alister_Benn]

Many thanks!

[@timwootton4649]

Another great conversation Alister & Simon!

[@susanfirth2279]

Great conversation. Looking forward to part 3.

[@Alister_Benn]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@hughwolfe1176]

Beautiful work Simon, love all of the mist and fog in the air something we don't see very often here in Arizona. Alister thank you for sharing this conversation.

[@dianevose9655]

I absolutely love these conversations with you and Simon. I especially loved the question you asked about how different varieties of trees resonate with emotions. I've had a lot of Bereavements this year and have thrown myself into woodland photography as a way to heal. It's been such a revelation to feel the connection between my emotions and the forest. I love shooting locally so this year I've seen the woodland grow and change, just as I have as a photographer and person. You both so inspire me with your photography and love for the natural world. Thank you 😊

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks for the lovely and open comment. Yes, I liked that question, I wonder where they come from half the time!

[@CharlesMercer]

I have been grappling with the concept of the role of emotions in our photography. This is a HUGE subject and can become a lifestyle study; in particular with regard to wellbeing, using this amazing outlet to enhance our understanding of self. This would negate our own ego and search for acceptance. I am also on this path.

[@Alister_Benn]

That is so true, it is very much the basis of all my teaching. I even call some of the sliders in Lightroom "Ego Sliders" :-)

[@ejpeiker]

I just watched parts 1 & 2 and I am very impressed with Simon's work. I was only (less than) vaguely familiar with his work before this but count me in as a fan now!

[@Alister_Benn]

Great - happy to hear that dude,,,

[@tjcuneo]

I enjoyed this conversation and found myself relating to it. Thanks to you and Simon.

[@geoffstairmand3747]

I sat completely glued to that conversation. Fantastic and looking forward to the next.

[@Alister_Benn]

Excellent! happy to hear that

[@mexicomurray]

Beautiful interview. You dug into Simon’s brain and magic came out. He’s so good at explaining what he’s doing and why. Murray

[@Alister_Benn]

LOL, yeah, it was a lot of fun.

[@searam1]

Excellent series! Simon is my favourite photographer even though I am in Atlanta. I enjoy these videos. Sean

[@Alister_Benn]

Awesome, thank you!

[@dannyhead5287]

This video really hits home for me. Photographing using "the rules" has been a struggle for me especially in woodland photography. I'm finding that knowing the rules is good, but even better is going with the gut feeling instead. I think at one time I got too aware of patrolling your edges to the point of not shooting what I felt was "right".

[@Alister_Benn]

I prefer thinking of consequences of decisions. That is the path to the innate.

[@dennisheckman5916]

2 Thumbs up! Are you a happy photographer? I laughed just as much as Simon did when he heard the question. Great part 2.

[@Alister_Benn]

LOL, yeah, I do love throwing a curve ball every now and then :-)

[@keithpinn152]

Hi Alister: This second of the interview with Simon has been very enjoyable to view. I found Simon's comment about listening to music as he gets ready for a shoot extremely. I was immediately transposed to hearing Edvard Grieg's Morning Mood or Peace of the Woods playing in Simon's car vs. some hard hitting rock unless it was RUSH! I can't wait to see Part III. Cheers, Keith

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks man. I was listening to Rush in the car yesterday :-) In fact, as I write this I am listening to Rush! :-)

[@dinsdalephotography]

Fantastic interview - always great to hear more from Simon. Really enjoying your series Alister - Cheers from Canada.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks for listening

[@tjsinva]

A large plate of food for thought. Stimulating!

[@M_Rollins]

26:20 I feel this answer in my bones. The early days of the pandemic had me out of work, and into my local woods almost every day, and it was just a struuuggle. A potent mix of my own lack of vision and an incredibly uncooperative, difficult landscape had my creativity, and indeed my whole attitude, at an all-time low.

[@Alister_Benn]

I hope things are improving now Mick. Our state of mind is a fragile thing and visualising versions of ourselves in peace is such a strong step to forward momentum.

[@johnhubble5156]

Given the importance you both attach to the intuitive and your avoidance of rules, could you explore(in part 3?) how you reconcile this with your offering of workshops which presumable involves some degree of guidance if not tuition. It would be interesting to know if you both attended workshops as part of your own development and if so what you feel were the most valuable outcomes for you.

[@jacktaylor6190]

Had to stop and think for myself on a few of your questions, very informative! Look forward to part 3!

[@Alister_Benn]

Excellent, I am happy to hear that.

[@howardrankin7119]

Fascinating discussion. You have much in common in terms of your engagement with the landscape but I also found it interesting that your approach, Alister, seems to be purely intuitive, while Simon marries initial intuition with technical refinement in terms of composition, and that Simon will revisit a promising location many times as part of that refinement while you tend to be less planned and more spontaneous.? As an aside, do you both find the process of vlogging hinders the sense of engagement and -dare I say it- communion , with the landscape?

[@myphotographyworld9780]

Cracking conversations these, so many realisations for me, great intuitive discussions!

[@Alister_Benn]

Thank you so much

[@grabshotphoto7396]

8:45 For me "improving" my photography is my ability to express what I intend, which was difficult at first until I stopped trying to force my will into a scene/area and instead allow myself to capture simpler things and then identify what it is I reacted to or wish to communicate about it.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks for that