Nicolai Howalt
Nicolai Howalt is a Danish photographer who’s work carries references to the tradition of documentarism. His work is typically based in specific environments, for example his how to hunt series, which balanced the art of hunting and a series of beautiful landscapes.
I was inspired by Nicolai Howalt’s “How to hunt” series, as it consists of beautiful and interesting photographs of a modern portrayal of hunting as a ritualised performance that was once a basic human need.
The artist says “ This thread is central to How to Hunt. There’s no blood, no guts " the kill itself is not in focus. Just as modern society chooses to elide the actual reality of slaughter, so our images are an aestheticised rendition of the hunt, reflecting its recreative rather than essential nature”
Despite hunting being the main prospect of the photographs I chose to look at this photographer as the series also features many strong enchanting pictures of the forest where the hunting took place .
With the de-saturated colours the grey sky blends in with the mist, this enhances the right textures of the woodland overall creating a eerie atmosphere. The enhanced lighting contrasting with the grey sky overall creates an enigmatic landscape. The limited tonal range enhances the melancholy colours of autumn and the strong silhouettes of the birds in the grey skies. Overall the series portrays hunting as a romantic affair, avoiding any signs or gore and blood , Nicolai Howalt has managed to capture the graceful elements of hunting, manipulating her photographs to show every step of the kill in a single photograph.
In my own photographs I want to portray the same mysterious atmosphere creating a fantasy-like serene atmosphere, taking forward Nicolai Howalt’s use of interesting and enhanced lighting enhancing the rich textures of nature.
I was inspired by Nicolai Howalt’s “How to hunt” series, as it consists of beautiful and interesting photographs of a modern portrayal of hunting as a ritualised performance that was once a basic human need.
The artist says “ This thread is central to How to Hunt. There’s no blood, no guts " the kill itself is not in focus. Just as modern society chooses to elide the actual reality of slaughter, so our images are an aestheticised rendition of the hunt, reflecting its recreative rather than essential nature”
Despite hunting being the main prospect of the photographs I chose to look at this photographer as the series also features many strong enchanting pictures of the forest where the hunting took place .
With the de-saturated colours the grey sky blends in with the mist, this enhances the right textures of the woodland overall creating a eerie atmosphere. The enhanced lighting contrasting with the grey sky overall creates an enigmatic landscape. The limited tonal range enhances the melancholy colours of autumn and the strong silhouettes of the birds in the grey skies. Overall the series portrays hunting as a romantic affair, avoiding any signs or gore and blood , Nicolai Howalt has managed to capture the graceful elements of hunting, manipulating her photographs to show every step of the kill in a single photograph.
In my own photographs I want to portray the same mysterious atmosphere creating a fantasy-like serene atmosphere, taking forward Nicolai Howalt’s use of interesting and enhanced lighting enhancing the rich textures of nature.
