Even after photographing for decades, I’m still often astonished by how the presence of a small human figure can crystallize and focus a scene. (To understand this, use your finger to cover the person and note how different the photograph feels.) I’m not sure if it is simply due to adding a focal point or something about how our brains respond to the presence of other people.
Since I was photographing the reflections of the Panamint Mountains in Lake Manly, at first I was mildly annoyed that this person was wandering around in the scene. However, I was able to shoot around her with little difficulty — and after a while I realized that she could be the central element of a photograph suggesting our relationship to this desert landscape.
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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email
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I did as you said, put my finger over the person so that all I saw was the landscape. Indeed, as pretty as the sole landscape is, I still liked the photo with the person in it much more.
I also thought it was neat the way it almost seemed like she was walking on water.
I recall the first photograph that made me think about this —— a monochrome photograph of a Big Sur fisherman in front of huge surf. Another one is the header image with the two very small people on top of the dunes.