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Murray Wilkie, a Scottish Ansel Adams
Murray Wilkie, a Scottish Ansel Adams
POSTED JUNE 18, 2020
Photographer and film maker Murray Wilkie is not yet famous enough for his own Wikipedia page, but his photographs and short films of Scotland put me in mind of the great American landscape photographer Ansel Adams. Like Adams, Wilkie's photographs are of wilderness areas. Where Ansel Adams celebrated the American West, Murray Wilkie gives us the highlands and lochs of Scotland.
Photographer and film maker Murray Wilkie is not yet famous enough for his own Wikipedia page, but his photographs and short films of Scotland put me in mind of the great American landscape photographer Ansel Adams. Like Adams, Wilkie's photographs are of wilderness areas. Where Ansel Adams celebrated the American West, Murray Wilkie gives us the highlands and lochs of Scotland.
In contrast with landscape painting, which took centuries to develop*, landscape photography became popular almost with the invention of the medium. The long time required for exposures made landscapes the perfect subject for a still photo. The first photograph taken in 1826 required an eight-hour exposure. Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre invented the daguerreotype in 1839. His famous long-range cityscape, that accidentally captures a man having his shoes shined, took ten minutes to make. Daguerreotype studios became especially popular in the United States, and the "exploration of the USA during the 19th century opened opened up a wonderful array of landscapes that helped pave the way for landscape photography as art. The American West, in particular, became a huge source of inspiration and provided us with some of the most important photographs in history." (Thurmanovich Gallery website)
In contrast with landscape painting, which took centuries to develop*, landscape photography became popular almost with the invention of the medium. The long time required for exposures made landscapes the perfect subject for a still photo. The first photograph taken in 1826 required an eight-hour exposure. Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre invented the daguerreotype in 1839. His famous long-range cityscape, that accidentally captures a man having his shoes shined, took ten minutes to make. Daguerreotype studios became especially popular in the United States, and the "exploration of the USA during the 19th century opened opened up a wonderful array of landscapes that helped pave the way for landscape photography as art. The American West, in particular, became a huge source of inspiration and provided us with some of the most important photographs in history." (Thurmanovich Gallery website)
Like the American West, Scotland's vistas are a constant source of inspiration for photographers. Murray Wilkie's work features stunning photographs of Scotland, particularly of its Highlands. His videos, such as "In Search of a Winter Landscape Photo" and "Getting Closer to the Heavens", show us the film maker, photographer and mountaineer at work, giving us a view into his creative process.
Like the American West, Scotland's vistas are a constant source of inspiration for photographers. Murray Wilkie's work features stunning photographs of Scotland, particularly of its Highlands. His videos, such as "In Search of a Winter Landscape Photo" and "Getting Closer to the Heavens", show us the film maker, photographer and mountaineer at work, giving us a view into his creative process.
Below are some of his images. From the top: sunset from summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan in Glencoe; Aonach Eagach ridge; Carn Mor Dearg near Ben Nevis; view overlooking the Buachaille at dusk; sunrise from summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan in Glencoe.
Below are some of his images. From the top: sunset from summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan in Glencoe; Aonach Eagach ridge; Carn Mor Dearg near Ben Nevis; view overlooking the Buachaille at dusk; sunrise from summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan in Glencoe.
* Almost four centuries passed after the discovery of linear perspective, before the artists of the Romantic Era increased the stature of landscape painting. Romantic Era artists celebrated the natural world and began painting out of doors - a method later embraced by the Impressionists. Works based on close observation of the landscape as well as the sky and atmosphere elevated landscape painting to a new, more respectful level. While some of these artists emphasized humans at one with and a part of nature, others portrayed nature's power and unpredictability.
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