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| Afternoon storm over Death Valley ©Steve Kossack 2006 |
the passion of photography ... edward mendell
I recently returned from five days in Death Valley. I was guided throughout the park by my new friend, Steve Kossack. It was a glorious photographic adventure for me and a great time to shoot up a lot of film. (Yes, I still use film and I’m addicted to my medium format Hasselblad.)
Although I’d read about Death Valley and seen many pictures of the magnificent geology that makes this place such a wonderland, being there and seeing it in three dimensions, smelling the air, walking through the shadowed canyons, admiring the brilliant mineral colors, touching rocks more than a billion years old – this made it all real.
I returned home with a fine collection of images that will delight my family, my friends, my audiences and, particularly, myself - as I recall the excitement with which I enjoyed each new view.
Seeing the sights was half the pleasure; photographing them was the other, because I am passionate about my photography. There’s fun, a sense of accomplishment, an understanding of the available tools, and an indefinable intuitive ‘streak’ that makes one a photographer. It’s the difference between a snap-shooter and an artist, a dabbler and a craftsman.
I’m an octogenarian who has spent the last twenty years traveling the world photographing its wildlife, its people, its natural beauties. If I’ve learned nothing else, I’ve discovered that the single most important ingredient in making (‘making’ rather than ‘taking’) outstanding photographs is passion. When I’m gazing at a scene through the eyepiece of my view finder, there’s nothing else in the whole world than that picture – it has my total attention – and I feel it emotionally, with all my senses, with passion.
And that’s why this tour in Death Valley, just as my other journeys, was such a life-enriching experience.
Comment
Always when seeing a familiar place with someone that has not previously had the opportunity, is eye opening for me, in so many ways. Watching Edward and sharing not only the landscape photography but also the experience was refreshing. The approach was relaxed and calculated at the same time. This was a prime example of enjoyment of, and in photography. In was at once low key and still very exciting to see how so many things can, and were accomplished with will and determination.
I'm sure we all wonder at times how long we will be able to pursue our passion for travel, adventure and photography. If my experience in Death Valley this spring was any indication of things to come ...... there are many things to come for quite some time!
Thanks Edward ... for so much!
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