Susan Milinkovich began photographing with her father when she received her first Brownie camera in elementary school. Her dad gave her the gift of “seeing” a photograph and both parents gave her a love of nature and an appreciation for the beauty to be found in our everyday world. Susan has attended workshops with nature photographers John Shaw, Charlie Waite, Charlie Cramer, John Barclay, Tillman Crane, Kathleen Clemmons, Bill Lea, and Will Clay. While Susan enjoys capturing the larger landscapes, it is the intimate details of a landscape, structure or flower that draws her attention and tells a story. Susan has participated in exhibits at galleries around the Cincinnati area and has been a part of Cincinnati’s PhotoFocus. Susan leads photowalks, teaches classes and workshops, is president of one of the camera clubs she attends, and is an ongoing instructor at the photo workshops at the Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont. You can see Susan’s photography at www.susanmilinkovich.com
Using Compositional Tools to Create Intimate Landscapes
The term “intimate landscape” can be attributed to American photographer Eliot Porter. An intimate landscape puts a frame around a small part of the world around us and draws our attention to something we might not otherwise notice. It’s about the smaller details vs. the big scenic landscape. It might focus on shapes, lines, colors, textures or patterns. It can tell a part of the story. It can be crafted to convey a particular mood, emotion or observation with a degree of intimacy, understanding or closeness.
One reason for pursuing the intimate landscape is that you’ll create images that are uniquely your own. It allows your vision to shine through in ways that photographing grand scenic landscapes cannot. Intimate landscapes can include nature scenes, abstract photographs, portraits of flowers, plants or trees, or small scenes from buildings and other structures. Join us as we learn to explore, observe, distill and craft intimate photographs. An entire
“There are two ways to live your life. One, as though nothing is a miracle. The other; as though everything is.” Albert Einstein