Chris Rainier’s new book Sacred offers a soulful global survey of sacred places.
While there are portraits (what Chris is best known for) of the people in the cultures who grow out of and make places more sacred through their practices, this collection of images focuses more on the monuments and artifacts left behind and includes places that have been minimally impacted by and in a few cases places that have never been inhabited by humans. The mysteries of time permeate this work, rooted in the present and looking both back and time and toward an uncertain future.
Find the book Sacred here.
Find out more about Chris Rainier here.
Visit Cultural Sanctuaries here.
Follow Chris Rainier on Instagram here.
Read our Q&A here.
Read our Conversation here.
Find Quotes here.
Enjoy this selection of photographs from Chris Rainier’s new book Sacred.
Find the book Sacred here.
Find out more about Chris Rainier here.
Visit Cultural Sanctuaries here.
Follow Chris Rainier on Instagram here.
Read our Q&A here.
Read our Conversation here.
Find Quotes here.
Enjoy this selection of quotes by photographer William Neill.
“I learned that being in nature could not only be fun but also restorative and healing.”
“Living here has been an inspirational education, a mentorship taught by the landscape itself … What I’ve learned is that Yosemite, beyond its role as a nature preserve and place of recreation, is a sanctuary for the spirit.”
“I refer to nature’s beauty as my ballast in the storms of life. Seeing the beauty that surrounds me, and surrounds everyone, every day reminds me there is so much that is good in our world and gives me hope that the arc of history moves towards peace and kindness and beauty.”
“Seeing nature and looking for photographs is a daily practice for me.”
“I can see how “hunting” for images is a term that makes sense for how most of us find photographs. I prefer the idea of being a receptor for inspiration, for seeing what moves me.”
“You can best honor the landscape by becoming the best artist you can be, showing your own point of view and not regurgitating other’s point of view.”
“As for a responsibility of a landscape photographer to the audience, just be authentic to your vision. Share your knowledge of place and technique.”
“Be an activist for your favorite landscapes. If you are inclined towards environmental issues, use your images to educate others about what might be damaged or lost. As an artist, use your vision to share what you love so that they might love it, so that they might help them portray and preserve endangered landscapes themselves.”
“Historically, using beautiful landscape photographs have helped convince the powers that be to regulate and protect their use. We needed to strike a fine balance between protecting places and loving a place to death.”
“I’ve written that it can be helpful for some to “write their story” but it is not required. It is more important for you the artist to understand what you want to say and know how to say it. One way to do this is to write it out to help clarify your reasons to photograph for yourself and for the viewer.”
“By creating photographs where the content or orientation is not obvious, an intimate and enigmatic feeling can come through. I would rather make an image that asks a question than one that answers one, one that intrigues and arouses curiosity in the viewer.”
“My favorite photograph quote was written by Minor White, “When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don’t leave until you have captured its essence.”
Learn more about William Neill here.
Preoccupied with tools and techniques, few photographers speak to thematic development, which is exactly what William Neill does in his book The Photographer’s Portfolio Development Workshop.
The lessons it offers were originally designed for his BetterPhoto online course (offered for eight years but no longer available) and have now been updated and have helped thousands deepen their visual voice.
One look at the sections in its table of contents will show you the journey it offers you.
Find Your Focus
Think In Themes
Edit On A Technical And Aesthetic Level
Build Upon A Theme
Add Depth To Your Portfolio
Refine Your Theme
Where You Can Go From Here
Put It All Together
I judge books not by their covers but by their tables of contents. This one is well worth the time taken to get to know it. At 100 highly illustrated pages, making the time for this book is not a big commitment, but it will likely help you make a bigger commitment to your photography.
Get 40% off with the discount code – WNEILL40.
Learn more about William Neill here.
Enjoy this collection of photographs by William Neill.
Learn more about William Neill here.
“In this episode (Beyond The Lens), Richard ventured into the mind of William Neill to find out what inspires him, what gives his work such emotional depth, his passions, persistence and creativity, and more. William touches upon his time working in American landscape photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams’ gallery, sharing what inspired him to photograph Yosemite. He explains why he puts experiencing a place above the results.”
Learn more about William Neill here.
