I not too long ago spent a while watching a bartender take care of her patrons who have been ordering fancy drinks that integrated 4 or 5 elements that didn’t look like they need to go collectively. The bartender was taking care to make use of simply the correct quantity of her chosen elements, utilising clever methods that playfully blended every of them right into a tasty and delightful concoction. I admired how she was capable of skillfully mix a shot of high-end bourbon, a splash of bitters, a small quantity of straightforward syrup, a couple of ice cubes, and a dehydrated orange wheel right into a glass that had been positioned over a smoking pile of wooden chips to create a “Smoked Outdated Trend.” It jogged my memory of the way in which by which some photographers are capable of craft their photos utilizing disparate components that wouldn’t essentially go collectively to create a picture that’s better than the sum of its components. It jogged my memory of the work of Hans Gunnar Aslaksen.
I first grew to become conscious of Hans’ work as a result of he submitted it to the Pure Panorama Images Awards final 12 months, the place he earned a prime 10 end for his general portfolio. There was one thing about his work that drew me in, desirous to extra carefully perceive why it stood out so prominently amongst 1000’s of different photographers’ photos.
After I discovered that Hans had a graphic design background, it made me immediately realise why his images works so nicely – he has formally studied the methods obligatory for creating interesting designs in his day-to-day life as an artwork director.
After I discovered that Hans had a graphic design background, it made me immediately realise why his images works so nicely – he has formally studied the methods obligatory for creating interesting designs in his day-to-day life as an artwork director. This contains composition, color idea, the usage of patterns and shapes, and utilizing photos to speak concepts.
This form of background is extremely priceless within the subject of panorama images as a result of it permits one to extra simply recognise components within the pure world that can be utilized to create a compelling photograph. Maybe what I most get pleasure from about how Hans makes use of this background is the way in which by which he is ready to simplify his photos and distil them all the way down to solely an important elements of the {photograph} with a view to convey the message and that means behind the picture. The method of rigorously excluding simply the correct quantity of any given scene in {a photograph} might be one of the crucial essential expertise a nature photographer can develop, and Hans is a good instance of what will be doable for those who do it nicely. Hans additionally bucks the stylish use of the rule of thirds, usually bravely inserting his principal topic on the centre of the body, utilizing exterior components to assist draw the viewer in the direction of the hero of the {photograph}. It is a compositional expertise that many photographers fail to train and one which I encourage extra individuals to check out.
Secondly, Hans’ photos usually solely include two sturdy colors that play nicely off one another, clearly leveraging his information of the color wheel and complimentary color schemes. To check this out, I used Adobe’s color theme device, which lets you add a photograph and extract a color scheme from the picture (it is also an effective way to see in case your {photograph} makes use of complimentary color themes). I needed to see if Hans’ images would create pleasing color themes. I used to be not shocked to search out that a lot of his photos create fairly compelling color themes, proving that his work has a heavy design affect. Listed here are some examples:
One other factor that I’ve come to understand about Hans’ images is that it principally is just not of and from an epic location, slightly, Hans has spent plenty of time near residence, the place he lives in Norway, and he has discovered a solution to reveal the personalities of these locations by spending extra time in them with the digital camera.
I feel Hans’ images exemplifies what is feasible for those who turn into intimate with place – your images begins to disclose subtleties and nuances that the majority others overlook, and your images has a way more rapid affect consequently.
I recognise that this idea is just not a brand new one; nonetheless, I feel Hans’ images exemplifies what is feasible for those who turn into intimate with place – your images begins to disclose subtleties and nuances that the majority others overlook, and your images has a way more rapid affect consequently. This relationship between a photographer and topic is a two-way road that enables for the topic to affect its magic onto the photographer whereas the photographer responds in sort.
Lastly, in studying Hans’ bio that he despatched over to me in preparation for this text, he shared with me that he locations plenty of worth in spending time in nature when the climate is downright nasty, and I feel this vastly contributes to the general bundle {that a} photographer brings to the desk. For those who can recognize nature when the climate is “unhealthy,” then I feel it is possible for you to to make images which can be distinctive, and true to the character of the place, embodying nature at its finest. I feel this perspective shines by in Hans’ images, which all appear to have the power to move the viewer to share within the expertise.
Hans is a photographer that clearly brings plenty of who he’s to the method and imbues it into his images. I feel it is a trait that’s usually ignored however one which I personally extremely worth within the work of others.
Ansel Adams was quoted as saying, “You do not make {a photograph} simply with a digital camera. You convey to the act of images all the photographs you will have seen, the books you will have learn, the music you will have heard, the individuals you will have beloved.”
In Hans’ case, he additionally brings with him his information of place and his experience in design – every woven collectively to create particular vignettes of the pure world.
Hans Gunnar Aslaksen lives within the small Norwegian city of Larvik together with his spouse and two children, the place he works as a graphic designer and artwork director.
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