Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

I've (mis-)appropriated the title of this post from a landmark book by anthropologist Claude Levi-Straus. It seemed only fitting since those words --'raw' and 'cooked'-- describe the norms and proclivities of certain cultures, they describe the norms and proclivities of photographers, too. I, as an individual, have cameras and use much of my time using them, and even more time considering the images those cameras have produced, and existing within a culture of the raw and the cooked, I'm led to question which of those I --or any of us in this culture-- might be at any moment.

I find myself at times acting in reaction. The stray comment, the unconsidered opinion, the image that imitates or the picture that poses; any of these can rub me raw. I cook up schemes and set out to capture in my camera the thing that proves --if only to myself-- that the eye is drawn to the darkest thing, not the lightest, or that the iconic thing wouldn't be iconic but for the lesser things around it. I'm surrounded by settings some have scribed on their bucket lists, and I pass those places by. The thing or scene or place 'over there' shines all the more resplendent, and is somehow more raw than cooked, and that's what's drawn me in.

Its not by plan, or at least not by any more planning than to grab my gear and go. Somewhere, anywhere, randomly, completely counter to culture. Rather than by reaction, my burner is simply lit, the better to fry some AHA! moment into a momentary, accidental, unplanned image that whether it gets burnt or boiled, it is what it is, a contradiction in terms, an 'opposites made one,' a blend of the cooked and the raw.

I rarely achieve my goal. That doesn't bother me greatly. I'm satisfied by my cooked, I'm pleased by my raw. Whatever strivings I see off in some distance are there, whether I've reached them or not. Its probably nothing much to geek out about, so long as the food is edible.

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Methow18

Love this shot. Well balanced and also framing the monument between the cliffs on the rt. ang the Juniper on the left.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Two of your comments resonate with me since I live fairly close to Mount Rainier National Park:

1. the iconic thing wouldn't be iconic but for the lesser things around it.
2. I'm surrounded by settings some have scribed on their bucket lists, and I pass those places by.

In the current main forum topic, "Artistic vision vs. a cliched snapshot," I just posted a typical (cliche) shot of Mount Rainier and one I hope is something more. I've slowly come to appreciate the difference, even though I also recently posted a postcard pic of Mt Hood

I have very far to go, but my journey through photography has always been on a winding path full of the joy of discovery.

Your message in this topic is timely and important and inspiring; thank you Cany! (oh yeah, drop-dead gorgeous photos too )

Rolk Loc: South Central PA

I totally understand where you are coming from, Cany.

When traveling, I certainly want to capture iconic images, but I'm much more interested
in capturing the fleeting moment in time that I'll only remember vividly when I review
my albums.

It's hard to do sometimes, but especially while traveling, even on a walk around
the neighborhood, I try to keep these words in mind...."Show me something
I haven't seen before."

You do a wonderful job of doing just that, and I thank you sir!
Tim

Riverrat2 Loc: South East Idaho

Thank you Cany for your pictures and your thoughts. I still like the iconic that I haven't seen, or ones where I have not yet captured the essence. But I too like the unbeaten paths. Keep on posting!

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Wonderful images!

Cany, It looks like you might be preaching to the choir. But “All”, please don’t pass up too many of those iconic images in search of the unique. It turns out now that too often a photo opportunity had been passed up because I would think to myself, “I’ve seen that image 100 times”. Many of our trips to places were photographed with a “look where I’ve been” attitude, rather than taking the time to set up a proper shot. All because it wasn’t different and I regret that. A lot

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

I'm constantly on the lookout for scenes that catch my eye whether iconic or not. When I do stop to take a shot I try to find an interesting angle or different approach that will make an interesting shot to the viewer. I do this out of necessity since the majority of my time is spent here in Iowa where there is few iconic scenes to be had. Both of your shots fill the bill as far as I'm concerned. Nice work.

Walt

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

I have to respectfully disagree with you Walt. Driving across Iowa, there were times I was awed by what I was seeing. I found myself wishing there wasn't another destination that needed reaching at a predetermined time, and strongly considered a return to Iowa to spend some quality time. Could you be equating 'iconic' and 'monumental'?

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Einreb92 Loc: Philadelphia

Great examples of the under discussion genre, Jim. I agree: this viewer’s eye traveled to the dark of the rock on the right, up to the mountain top (sorry MLK), but returned to the darker region. I don’t know if that was your desire and the core of your thesis, but my observations are driven by natural reaction to the contrast.
In #2, is that from Island In The Sky?

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

My apologies, Rich, if what I wrote came across as being preachy. That wasn't my intent. Its just that I didn't notice there was a choir. I also didn't intend to try to persuade others not to visit and/or photograph any of the 'icons' they see. What I was trying to say is that the places that are not listed in the brochure or marked on the map --or are listed as 'musts' on a forum-- are often more photogenic and iconic as the places that are. Whether a photographer performs the ritual of 'properly setting up a shot' at the place and time they were told is 'best,' or they've follow some muse and that made them shot some non-brochure, outside the park whatever that drew their eye like that proverbial moth to a flame, I'll warrant that the latter will likely be more personally meaningful, and may reveal as much or more than the icon ever could.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

What you observed is part of what I meant. What a viewer's eyes do (or do not do, despite what the viewer has read they're supposed to do) was just one of any number of examples I could've mentioned. But recreating the Library of Babel is not high on my list of 'to-do's' this week.

From ISKY? Hah! I was a couple minutes off Main Street in Moab. Nobody really pays any attention to the LaSals, except maybe as a distant backdrop for some iconic something up in Arches NP, like Balanced Rock or Turret Arch or any of the other named and 'must see' places on the map.

<edit:> Oh, wait! #2! Yup, up in ISKY. First snow this winter.

Einreb92 Loc: Philadelphia

Well your written perspective gives me lots to consider.

Ha ha! I got a strange feeling, when you said it was Not ISKY, because I have a similar but wider angle shot of that same area and wondered if my wife had spiked my tea! Either that, or I am accustomed to being wrong;)

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

My interpretation of iconic would be those scenes that everyone knows: The arches in Arches National Park, The Golden Gate Bridge, Mt. Ranier, etc. I agree that Iowa has some beautiful scenery and I too have been awed at times when driving some back country gravel road and come over the top of a hill and there before me lies a gorgeous scene. I just don’t equate them with iconic in the sense of the above interpretation.

Walt

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

I am the one that needs to apologize. Not being able to explain myself is an on going problem for me. By preaching to the choir I only meant that it appeared there were at least a few of us that agreed with you. That included me. While trying to explain that I usually went to far in search of "perfect at the expense of the very good", I left the wrong impression.

bertloomis Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

I like them both.