Images + Impressions of our Natural Environment: Photographic Works by Fletcher Boland

Wasatch Mountains, Utah

The Wasatch Mountains as seen from the greater Salt Lake City area. This image has several strong diagonals repeated both in the mountain ridges and clouds, giving it a dynamic, powerful feel.

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My last post featured a series of dramatic photographs of the Franconia Range, and I wanted to follow it up with some more images of this magnificent area. This grouping shows the textured slopes of Mount Lafayette, the highest peak in the range.

Where the previous set of images focused on creating a very dramatic feel, these are calmer and gentler in style, though they still convey a sense of the immensity of the mountain. The very limited color palette contributes to the calming effect and gives them an almost warm feel in comparison to the black and white set. These feel uplifting and optimistic where the others feel powerful and ominous.

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Franconia Notch in New Hampshire’s White Mountains has attracted many artists over the years, and with good reason, it is one of the most stunning mountain landscapes in New England. Around this time, two years ago some friends and I spent a very cold night in the Lafayette place campground. Our trip was not without reward; we watched the entire Franconia ridge line bathed in beautiful alpenglow as the sun set.

The day’s hike was a quick jaunt to Lonesome Lake, during which we watched massive cloud banks float over the peaks. Each peak in the Franconia range continuously drifted in and out of the clouds — It was truly mesmerizing to watch the endless formations moving quickly across the frozen alpine landscape.  This scene lends itself incredibly well to making these dramatic black and white images. They are very classic in style, yet are exciting and powerful. Images like these never get old.

Mount Lafayette Franconia Notch

Franconia Notch Ridgeline in Winter

Franconia Ridge

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The Cape is one of my favorite places to visit, and I relish any opportunity to tread through its dunes and marshes. On a recent trip to Sandwich and Barnstable, I rose early and planned a walk through some of the area’s estuaries in hopes of capturing images with the morning light.

While exploring a new area, I was welcomed by a gentle fog with the sun just shining through and beginning to burn off the haze. Seeing the fog lift as I meandered along through marsh after marsh was refreshing; the atmospheric quality of the mist enhanced the experience of being in such a beautiful, natural place.

These images reflect the feeling of that morning. The light fog gives the images a sense of depth and makes it feel as though this wild land could go on forever. It is very easy to get lost in the pleasing landscapes in these images, as I did. I hope you enjoy these photographs of Cape Cod.

Cape Cod Marsh

Cape Cod Marsh

Cape Cod Marsh

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I am now printing my images in an exciting new format — large scale canvas gallery wraps! Presenting images in this format gives them a  more contemporary feel than my framed work. I am not abandoning frames, but providing these as an option to give a different feel to my art displayed in an office, gallery or home.

The enormous sizes are stunning on their own, but when combined with viewing the photographs directly, and not through glass, these canvas wraps decisively emphasize the images and compel you to examine them. With the images wrapped all the way around the edges, they protrude from the wall, creating a three dimensional effect which strengthens the presence of the artwork.

These prints will literally take over your wall —  Scandola (below, right) is six feet wide and over four feet tall! Sandy Neck, Cape Cod, (below, left) is five feet wide and over four feet tall. Most of my images are available in this format  in multiple sizes up to 55″ x 96″.

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Despite the incredible simplicity this image immediately conveys to the viewer, it is the subtle details which make it powerful and mesmerizing. The intricate detail of the hoar frost covered trees provide a sense of scale,  while  the varied texture dictated by increasing altitude elaborates this feeling.

Even though this alpine environment may seem all but inhospitable, the light blue sky adds a gentle touch to the image. The contrast between the harshness of winter in the mountains and the bright, uplifting sky enhances the allure of this photograph.

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While reminiscing on the photos I made this past year, I keep coming back to this image which is one I find closely fulfilling my vision. For me, it embodies a visual impression of Cape Cod which is new, trendsetting and cutting edge, yet harkens back to how the Cape has always appeared.

It has a timeless quality, yet is simple and clean with subtly that is fresh and exciting. It features bold colors, but they are more restrained than some of my other work producing a new variation which is very pleasing.

Dunes of Cape Cod

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I am ever fascinated by capturing the last rays of light on mountainside treetops, and these images epitomize that rare moment where the hills turn into a beautifully textured landscape. The freshly fallen snow heightens the effect, giving these images a soothing, content feel despite the inherent cold and loneliness of winter in the Vermont wilderness. More images from this series

Photographed near Killington Mountain in Vermont

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When I go somewhere to photograph, I feel satisfied if I come back with one image I really love (usually out of hundreds). However to communicate a compelling story, frequently a series of images is required to  illustrate the message. To acquire the images needed for this, I typically either shoot one place over the course of a few days, or make multiple trips back to the same area. On my recent trip to Corsica, I was very pleased to put together a very interesting series over the course of a few hours.

Heading out from the town of Calvi, I traveled down the coast to the Scandola Nature Reserve, a peninsula which is only accessible by boat. The voyage over open water  was very rough, leading to quite a few barf bags being distributed on board. On arrival we were greeted with a stunning landscape composed of a series of sheer cliffs, inlets and caves carved in unforgettable red geologic forms.

Working quickly I captured an endless  stream of amazing cliffs, monolithic landscapes and narrow passages between the rocks. The resulting images are an incredibly tight series  juxtaposing the forms against sky, clouds and sea. Each image in the series builds a story of a place which is so unique, perfectly untouched, and exquisitely formed that it might be imaginary.

View the Scandola series as a slideshow

Scandola Nature Reserve, Corsica, France

Scandola Nature Reserve, Corsica, France

Scandola Nature Reserve, Corsica, France

Scandola Nature Reserve, Corsica, France

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