Website/Video Review: The Luminous Landscape Video Journal: Issue 15
Published March 28, 2007
For those who don't know, The Luminous Landscape is a phenomenal website for those who are into photography, especially landscape photography. As with any quality photography site it has its galleries and essays as well as product reviews and tutorials. It has all the things one would expect in a professional photography website.
You may have read my review of Alain Briot's Mastering Landscape Photography: The Luminous Landscape Essays, a wonderful book that explores what it takes to become a master of landscape photography. On the site you can also read Briot's column called Briot's View. The publisher and primary author is Michael Reichmann. He has forged the site into a multimedia learning center with the The Luminous Landscape Video Journal. He is also the host of the video.
The Luminous Landscape Video Journal: Issue 15 is the latest offering from the Luminous Landscape. Although this is the first issue being offered as a download version, the one I am reviewing is the DVD version I ordered from the site. Let me make one point; my only minor disappointment is that from the time I order a DVD until the time I receive it takes about two to three weeks. I suspect this delay has to do with it coming from Canada. Our friends to the north will find the delivery time much shorter, but to me, it deprives me of my instant gratification. When issue 16 is available, I may be trying the download.
In this video, Michael (I have to use the familiar, since I feel acquainted with him from the videos) and the workshop participants are on location in Bangladesh. They have workshops also. The next one is going to the Amazon in April, which already sold out. They explore the wonderful aspects of being in an exotic location and getting the kind of shots one could only imagine being done by a National Geographic photographer. They journey down the river to the woodland of the Sunderban. They explore the Sadarghat - Dhaka's main ferry terminal. They examine the Bangladesh people - poor in wealth, but rich life and spirit.
- Website/Video Review: The Luminous Landscape Video Journal: Issue 15
- Published: March 28, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Video: Documentary, Sci/Tech: Internet, Review, Culture: Travel, Culture: Photography, Culture: Arts
- Writer: T. Michael Testi
- T. Michael Testi's BC Writer page
- T. Michael Testi's personal site
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The first issue I purchased was #14 together with the subscription for 3 more issues. After watching it I purchased all the back issues. Sure the reviews of cameras are outdated, but there is much more to it and I think that watching a pro photographer working is very useful especially if you cannot afford the price of a workshop in Antartica :-) Also the interviews and tutorials are very informative and even if some arguments are not interesting to me (such as dye transfer printing) I truly enjoyed watching the all process and the prints coming out.
Ryan,
A good review of a product that deserves as much attention as it can get.
I couldn't agree more. I stumbled on to the site about a year or so ago and saw the videos and at the time did not think much about them. I finally ordered #14. It took a while to get here and it sat on my shelf for a while. Finally, I got around to viewing it and was blown away.
I decided to try another before writing a review and received #15 and was equally blown away. It is something that has to be seen with the colors and how Michael and the others interact with their surroundings.
For one who loves the photographic image, there just is nothing like it out there.
T.
Luciano,
I think that watching a pro photographer working is very useful especially if you cannot afford the price of a workshop in Antarctica
Absolutely! And the quality of the video is so well done! Seeing what others do especially in the field, so much more educational than someone telling you in a book or even in a training video. It is much like seeing a professional in their natural environment.
Also the interviews and tutorials are very informative and even if some arguments are not interesting to me (such as dye transfer printing) I truly enjoyed watching the all process and the prints coming out.
What I have found out is that just because, you are not using this today does not mean that you won't tomorrow. Also, it is just nice to see what techniques that others are using.
T.
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A good review of a product that deserves as much attention as it can get. The LLVJ is an incredible resource! You can view my own review of LLVJ 15 at my blog.