Bruce Percy’s Photographic Vignettes

This vignette focusses on how I have reframed my landscape and portrait practices under a shared visual language.

I am sure this is not the case for many.

But I believe that once we get underway at making portraits of people, we can often find that the skills required have an overlap, if not the same, with our landscape work. As time has passed, I now feel they are one and the same for me, certainly in terms of visual message.

Learning to let go of anticipation, and work with what the landscape gives you.

Bruce Percy is a full time professional British landscape photographer who spends a large part of the year photographing around the world. He is a keen educator and has published six monographs of his work to date.

I believe in the importance of finding inspiration in a single image to overcome creative inertia. As I reflect on the process, I see how portfolios develop personality as more images are added and how strong ideas tend to lead to a quick emergence of themes in my work.

Bruce Percy is a full time professional British landscape photographer who spends a large part of the year photographing around the world. He is a keen educator and has published six monographs of his work to date.

Bruce uses Hasselblad V series film cameras with Fuji Velvia 50 film & Kodak E100. Music © Bruce Percy Bruce Percy's Website : http://www.brucepercy.com

In this podcast, I share my perspective on the word ‘scar’ and its connotations when describing landscapes. Initially, I viewed scars as negative, implying permanent damage.

However, over time, my perception of the word ‘scar’ has shifted, and I now appreciate the aesthetic beauty and compositional value of scars in landscapes. Particularly in Iceland.

In this podcast I draw parallels between the Icelandic landscape and my Scottish homeland, finding familiarity and a sense of connection in the traces of geological formations that both exhibit. I also explore the idea that scars on the landscape hold significance and can evoke a deeper understanding of the landscape’s history and formation.

All images © Bruce Percy. Images shot on location in Fjallabak nature reserve, and the central highlands of Iceland.

Bruce uses Hasselblad V series film cameras with Fuji Velvia 50 film exclusively.

Music © Bruce Percy 2024

Bruce Percy's Website : http://www.brucepercy.com

The episode discusses the importance of simplifying compositions in landscape photography. I aim to emphasise the need to remove or quieten secondary aspects of a scene to effectively convey the intended message.