Somebody asked me why I usually look away when they take a picture of me in the mountains. And in fact I tell my partners not to look at the camera either. Not on every picture, but on the ones that really show the drama of the mountains around, it really is better to look away. It makes the picture better. Why?

I think it's because later, when you look at the picture, if the climber is not looking at "you," you can imagine yourself in the climbers position much easier. And then you place yourself in the scene. If you've been there before you'll get a great injection of nostalgia. If you want to go there, you'll get an energy boost to make the trip.

I look at the pictures that made me want to climb a certain route. If it has a person (usually it does...weird), then the person is always focused on the climbing.

Anyway, that was just a camera thought that occurred to me while wasting time on the web.

I generally agree, but I can think of a few photos where the subject looking into the camera conveys much of the human drama that plays out on huge alpine faces. Lowe on the North Face of Mt Alberta (or was it North Twin) comes to mind.

I love to see the pure PASSION in a person's face. A SMILE never hurts, neither.

I know ... the dreaded no pain, no gain philosophy. Hey, you can still be MACHO if you give me a SMIRK !!!

Both Mike and Larry are both right. I like both the passion of the persons face and the staged action (Faceless) bodies climbing with the mountains being the target. Hows that for politics?

Deltaoperator17 wrote:Both Mike and Larry are both right. I like both the passion of the persons face and the staged action (Faceless) bodies climbing with the mountains being the target. Hows that for politics?

IT DEPENDS whether or not THEY'RE CLIMBING ON THE RIGHT or LEFT side of the MOUNTAIN.

ExcitableBoy wrote:I generally agree, but I can think of a few photos where the subject looking into the camera conveys much of the human drama that plays out on huge alpine faces. Lowe on the North Face of Mt Alberta (or was it North Twin) comes to mind.

I agree--sometimes looking at the camera helps make the shot. There is a photo in Alpinist IX (page 31) of Jeff Lowe and either Michael Kennedy or Greg Lowe (I can't remember which) looking straight into the camera on Mt. Hunter, after J. Lowe had broken his ankle or leg or something. It's one of the best photos I've seen--it says a lot without really requiring a caption.

builttospill wrote:

ExcitableBoy wrote:I generally agree, but I can think of a few photos where the subject looking into the camera conveys much of the human drama that plays out on huge alpine faces. Lowe on the North Face of Mt Alberta (or was it North Twin) comes to mind.

I agree--sometimes looking at the camera helps make the shot. There is a photo in Alpinist IX (page 31) of Jeff Lowe and either Michael Kennedy or Greg Lowe (I can't remember which) looking straight into the camera on Mt. Hunter, after J. Lowe had broken his ankle or leg or something. It's one of the best photos I've seen--it says a lot without really requiring a caption.

Perhaps that is the photo I am thinking of. I recall a photo of Greg Lowe (I think) wearing a helmet painted with a spider's web where he looked 'concerned'.

This is why I don't look directly into the camera ..

Good post mvs and I agree with you 100%. I'm going to work on this, but first I have to master not looking at myself in the mirror.

Seriously though, I do try to make most of my shots as spontaneous and candid as possible. I'm an awful photographer, but here are a few of my personal favorites.

Candid shots almost always make for a better photo.

Nice pics GH

Regarding face orientation, I would suspect that appreciation for / reaction to a photo varies depending on whether you know the people in the photo or not, even if you weren't there.

As far as summit shots go, a photo with the subject with his or her back to the camera is far more powerful than if you can see their face. In fact I think I think most scenery pictures can be enhanced with a silhoutted figure admiring the view, it draws you in and adds some human drama

Trevers89 wrote:As far as summit shots go, a photo with the subject with his or her back to the camera is far more powerful than if you can see their face. In fact I think I think most scenery pictures can be enhanced with a silhoutted figure admiring the view, it draws you in and adds some human drama

Sorry man, but I gotta disagree with this. I like the "hero shots" where the climber is staring directly into the camera, with fire in their eyes and
a SMILE frozen upon their face.

Then, I can ask them if they'd like to be included in the "Mountains of Smiles" album here on the Big SP ..

http://www.summitpost.org/mountains-of-smiles/376761

lcarreau wrote:

Trevers89 wrote:As far as summit shots go, a photo with the subject with his or her back to the camera is far more powerful than if you can see their face. In fact I think I think most scenery pictures can be enhanced with a silhoutted figure admiring the view, it draws you in and adds some human drama

Sorry man, but I gotta disagree with this. I like the "hero shots" where the climber is staring directly into the camera, with fire in their eyes and
a SMILE frozen upon their face.

Then, I can ask them if they'd like to be included in the "Mountains of Smiles" album here on the Big SP ..

http://www.summitpost.org/mountains-of-smiles/376761

I have nothing against these shots, I take them too They're great for bragging rights and memories! But for artistic merit and emotional response, the anonymous adventurer in a vast landscape does it for me. I'd happily frame this one and put it on my wall even though I don't know who it is!

http://www.summitpost.org/myself-on-the-initial-descent/113295/c-150199

But anyway, keep taking all the photos you can in whatever way you can! (BTW, can I stick some of mine in your smiles album?)