2416 - Second Nature

2013-05-29

Some photographers consider themselves “Nature Photographers” and for them it may make sense. For me not.

Nature can be clearly defined as that which is not created by man. Or woman 🙂

But when you look closer, distinctions begin to blur. Whatever we create, it begins to rot and decay under the influence of nature. Now, when the artificial is unmade in a natural process, it not only becomes nature again, it does so gradually, beginning right from the first instant.

So, when I make images like this, don’t I photograph nature? And if or if not, how meaningful is the distinction anyway?

The Song of the Day is “Second Nature” from the 2001 Eric Clapton album “Reptile”. Hear it on YouTube.

There are 3 comments

Bill Birtch   (2013-05-30)

Great image. Love the contrast between the eroded piece and the rest of the image. Seems to me that you've captured the 'natur'al process of erosion here. Nature's effect rather than nature herself. Then again, nature is anything but static in and of itself so maybe it's all about process. Is the distinction meaningful? Not really.

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Cedric Canard   (2013-05-31)

Wow, this brought back a few memories. Many years ago as a teenager, I argued, as part of an assignment, that if a bird built a nest or termites built huge mounds and this was called "nature" then, men constructing buildings was also nature. My teacher failed me saying that man-made objects were not part of nature. He went as far as to say that man himself was above nature and therefor not part of it. I've heard that said by others since but never understood that point of view, especially the part about putting man above and separate from nature. We are no more exempt from natural laws than a leaf on a tree as far as I know. Thanks for the post Andreas.

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andreas   (2013-06-09)

It's all a matter of definition, nothing more. If he defined nature exactly that way ... Nothing is more annoying than arguing with someone who uses the same words but different definitions. Nothing is more likely to lead to war on a global scale 😄

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