Dreamscape, Lemaire Channel, Antarctica, 2004 by Phil Douglis

Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Eleven: Aspects of Antarctica – a travel photo-essay > Dreamscape, Lemaire Channel, Antarctica, 2004

previous | next


06-JAN-2004

Dreamscape, Lemaire Channel, Antarctica, 2004

The narrow, glacier lined Lemaire Channel is considered one of the most picturesque in Antarctica. I chose to shoot directly into a luminous sky and underexpose this view of it, abstracting the scene down to an essence of harsh yet haunted beauty. Vast glaciers are barely revealed. Sharp peaks that line the channel are thrust against a glowing sky and tower over glistening water. So much of the excitement of travel is rooted in the human imagination. The Lemaire Channel was Antarctica as I had always imagined it would be. My camera is a tool that allows me to interpret reality as I wish and make this vision mine forever. I select this dreamscape to conclude my dream-like picture sequence and also provide a suitable exclamation point to the entire photo-essay.

Canon PowerShot G5
1/1600s f/8.0 at 7.2mm full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto

previous | next

Phil Douglis		17-Apr-2006 07:17
Looking forward to going back to Hawaii someday, Jeremy -- nature photography is excellent there.

Jeremy		03-Apr-2006 02:25
This is an impressive image, fully worthy to be the signature image of your photo-essay on Antarctica as you chose it to be. Two 'dreamscapes' that I would love to visit and photograph are: (1) rivers of ice (glaciers) flowing directly into the sea, and (2) rivers of fire or lava flowing directly into the sea. For the former, you have presented an excellent image here for us to enjoy. Now, I'll just wait for you to visit Hawaii and photograph those dreamscapes of rivers of lavae flowing from the volcanoes angrily into the sea, and add them to your Cyberbook for all of us to enjoy...:-)

Phil Douglis		29-May-2005 03:10
My pleasure, Cory. Use the cyberbook as a tool. The more you participate, the more you will learn.

Guest		29-May-2005 02:50
Thanks Phil, I noticed your comment on my gallery and will be taking a closer look soon. The weekends are usually relatively computer "hands off" for me but I wanted to thank you for offering your assistance and comments I will certainly continue my journey through your cyberbook and continue to learn with your other students also.

Phil Douglis		28-May-2005 05:28
Thanks, Cory. I welcome you to my cyberbook and hope that my ideas may eventually find a home in your photography. Expressive photography is essentially a visual language. I get great satisfaction from teaching that language to my students here on pbase, and welcome you to join the adventure at any time. Feel free to ask questions, post comments, and experiment with these ideas. I will be delighted to browse your images as well.

Guest		28-May-2005 01:04
You did your job very well here as you have in countless other photos Phil. I as you have noted am watching some of your students closely and learning a lot of the why from you and your students. Perhaps one day I can better describe the why and in knowing that produce better images. I would gladly consider your view on any of my images should you have time to browse them. So far I have not posted very many and I must admit my viewpoint on photography has not been as diverse as yours. Many were never shot with the principles that you teach, and my eyes are just opening to that world of photography recently.

Phil Douglis		28-May-2005 00:26
Hi, Cory. Thanks for this comment. You make a good point. It is OK that you can't explain why this image has an emotional effect on you. Some photographs simply defy explanation. I made this photo as an emotional trigger, a catalyst for the imagination. You can take it anywhere you want.

Guest		27-May-2005 22:32
I can't explain exactly why and I think thats ok that I can't, but this image evokes strong emoition and that to me makes it a top notch photo. I agree with Bruce I love it.

Guest		03-Dec-2004 09:20
Another amazing shot....love your work..

Phil Douglis		26-Sep-2004 00:23
Glad to have you on my side, Bruce, in this mild argument with Marek. I am not as concerned with aesthetics as I am with meaning and to me, all that water stressed movement, and that is what the LeMaire Channel is, an Antarctic passage.

Guest		25-Sep-2004 18:07
I have to add my two cents - I love this photo, and the inclusion of the water (with its vein of reflected light) perfectly envelopes the ridge. I tried looking at it with the water excluded and it loses far too much.

Phil Douglis		01-Feb-2004 20:11
Thanks, Denise, for your comment. I am glad you are in my camp, regarding all that water I left in the frame. To me, the water says movement, and it also, as you point out, gave you the feeling of approaching this scene with me. When I shoot, I like to think of my potential viewers as being there with me, of seeing what I see and feeling what I feel. I wanted you to vicariously experience what I experienced, and I am delighted that you have been able to do this here.

Guest		01-Feb-2004 19:46
gorgeous! i would love to be there. i like all the water. i like feeling like i am approaching this with you. thanks, denise

Phil Douglis		28-Jan-2004 20:03
Thanks, Robin, for your welcome comments on this gallery. One of the most difficult challenges I faced came in the editing process. I made over 500 images during the three days I was actually shooting in Antarctica. I kept just 43 of them -- the ones that expressed the essence of what I saw. (They can all be viewed at http://www.worldisround.com/articles/30203/index.html .) I used only 15 of those in this photo-essay, each image representing an important aspect of this vast and mysterious place. This particular photograph ends this essay -- of all the photos I took in Antarctica, this one is probably the most representative and instructive. It is a synthesis of everything I saw and felt in the Antarctic -- the vastness of its scale, the harshness of its climate and landscape, the beauty of its light and frozen forms, and the mysteries of an unknown land. I've tried to abstract all of that into this single image, and I hope that it will linger in your imagination as it does in my own.

robin statfeld		28-Jan-2004 12:14
Wow Phil, I've been anxiously awaiting your pictures from Antarctica and this gallery makes it well worth the wait! What a stunning place, a photographer's dream - you've definitely captured the beauty and the majesty and what makes it special, with such meaningful and memorable images. As always, your instructional explanations accompanying the photos are greatly appreciated by those of us just learning.

Phil Douglis		27-Jan-2004 00:51
Thanks, Marek, for another thoughtful cropping suggestion. However I disagree with your point that the bottom part of the picture is too open. The Lemaire Channel is a flowing body of water. I have captured that flow in the ripples that are accentuated towards the bottom of the picture. To crop them out would remove the sense of motion that is very much a part of the story this picture tells.

Guest		26-Jan-2004 19:34
Similarly, I feel that the bottom part of the composition is 'too open' to form a counterpoint to the sky. I think it's because the viewer expects the intensity of the sun reflected in the water, and maybe it's also to do with the shape of the reflection. Perhaps a little dodging and burning would help (and all in monochrome?) or a crop showing less of the sea.

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment