Is This A Good Photograph?

Aspens in full glory along Colorado Route 550 between Silverton and Durango. (click to enlarge)
Fujifilm X-T2, 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 18mm; 1/80th sec. @ f/11; ISO 200; Velvia Film Simulation

I was driving south high in the mountains on Colorado Route 550 just leaving the small town of Silverton and heading toward Durango.  The mountainsides were completely bathed with the yellows, golds and oranges of aspen trees—literally everywhere.  As I drove south, of course, the leaves were backlit and glowing.  Absolutely stunning! (a tribute to Thomas Heaton!  Lol)  I have to say it was almost overwhelming.  I don't believe I've seen so much color spread for so many miles as I did on this afternoon.  It truly was something to behold.

As I was driving, I was looking for a composition that would put all of this autumn foliage in some sort of perspective.  I really didn't see any specific composition that satisfied me.  After rounding a bend, I looked into my rear view mirror and saw this scene and decided to just stop and make a few images.  This scene, looking north, is quite striking and really catches one's attention.  Frankly, however, I made this image as a matter of record more than for art.  My question then becomes is "Is this a good photograph?"

I guess the first thing that needs to be done is to define the word "good."  I'll let you do that as it could mean technically competent, aesthetically well done, pleasing to the soul, etc.  You decide what good means to you in this instance.

After looking at this image in Lightroom, my first thought was the question, "What is the subject?"  Unless you consider the color itself to be the subject (which in my opinion it is), there is no real subject in this image.  It is a 'pretty picture', predominantly and brilliantly yellow, of mountainsides—and a deep blue sky.  Other than that, in and of itself, it holds little meaning to me.  I guess it would make a decent calendar photograph depicting the mountains of Colorado in the autumn, but as far as something that has a strong subject matter, it is lacking.  There is no single point of focus for the eye.  But maybe that should be the point.  It is just pleasant to look at.

Upon returning home from this road trip, I found I made dozens of "pretty pictures" of beautifully colored mountain scenes similar to this.  When traveling though these mountains it is very hard not to be overwhelmed by the glorious scenery that surrounds you.  You almost have to stop, get out and make some images.  The beauty is everywhere and such an unusual sight to see by someone from Virginia as am I.  But, in the end, that is what they are—pretty pictures and not really meaningful art.

Did I waste my time making this and other similar images?  No, not at all.  As I said, I made this and others as a record to remind me what I saw and felt.  Every time I look at one, I will be reminded how absolutely gorgeous it was in all directions, the feel of the cool, crisp mountain air, the sound of the wind passing through the leaves and sharing these moments with my wife.  Yes, it was well worth making.  But, in the end, it is just a documentary image to me.

If you have other opinions about this image and like images, please leave a comment.  I would like to hear what you have to say and I'm sure other readers would as well.

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Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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