Deconstructing Environmental Photographers

Seminar 2: Extreme Nature and the Discovery of the American West Group B

Similarities
Both have a sense of masculinity to them. We believe that both have a sense of self portraiture to them. Both Images are using the Romanticism period because of the spiritual nature in the photograph and because of the use of soft pastel colours that make it more dreamlike. Both have a sense of triumph and achievement because of how they put the walking stick down on the ground.

Differences
Although the landscapes are similar both are at different angles. In Caspar David Friedrichs painting we can see what the figure sees as opposed in William Henry Jacksons photograph we cant see what the figure is looking at which adds a sense of the unknown. Friedrichs painting was made in 1818 but Jacksons was made in 1871 The photograph has a sense of spirituality/ a sense of being close to god. The Painting shows height because of the clouds/fog but the photograph shows height because it gives a scale of the height rather than metaphorical. The Photograph is more Sublime whereas the painting is picturesque because the The painting was created to preserve a visual idea of what could be discovered whereas the photograph was commissioned to document the Rocky Mountains in the American West. The way in which the figure in photograph holds the walking stick is more humble. On the other hand the way the figure is holding the walking stick seems more proud because of the way he is standing.

 On initial viewing of both these images it seems as through the photographer was inspired by the place of the painting and has taken the photograph from a different angle to give a different view point