This time I would like to talk about one photograph taken by David Burdeny, a Canada photographer well known by his black and white landscapes. In the first class of Black and white craft, all students are asked to chose three favorite photos of three different photographers from a list about 500 photographers. It was interesting that three out of five students, including me, picked the same photographer, and the same photo as our favorite.

This is a long exposure landscape of a lake with a few poles standing in the water. The image is clean. It is so simple and so powerful. Actually, at first sight of this photo, my eyes are attracted by the vast world in the image immediately. One moment I felt like my mind had been taken away from the real world where was complex and full of duties, to the edge of the world, a quiet and lonely place. The square frame of this black and white landscape is like a small window on a wall, from where you can get a glimpse of a wonder world and get some fresh air.

Photographers have to previse the final image when shooting long exposure photos, as they are not able to be seen by our eyes. In other words, through long exposure, photographers are able to create scenes that we could not see in the real world. In this case, photos are not used to record or represent the reality but more like paintings to some extent. Objects or human figures may be used as elements of the “painting” to compose the scenes in photographer’s mind.

Another thing interests me is that how can three out of five students picked the same photo from a list of 500 photographers. I mean there are a lot of great photographers in the list may have higher achievement, but we still chose David Burdeny’s work. In his photo, there must be something caused common resonance. Is it because this photo creates a world where we can escape from the hustle and bustle? Or it is because it makes viewers recalling places or feelings somewhere in their memories.