Stark and Grainy on Purpose: One Photographer's Case Against Straight Landscape Photos

Summary

Photographer Steve O'Nions argues that technically perfect landscape photos fail to convey the physical experience of a location. To bridge this gap, he employs a deliberate approach using stark monochrome, heavy grain, and fiber-based darkroom printing, often with a Holga camera. O'Nions emphasizes that his goal is to evoke feeling rather than simply document reality. His darkroom process involves split-grade printing and careful attention to detail, including managing the wet-print problem and manually spotting dust marks.

Key points

• O'Nions prioritizes conveying feeling over technical perfection in landscape photography.
• He uses stark monochrome, heavy grain, and a Holga camera for his work.
• Fiber-based darkroom prints are preferred for their tonal qualities.
• The aim is to connect viewers to the experience, not just document a scene.