objects as expressions of place

Collected, Fernandina Beach, Florida. Photo ©2024 Lee Anne White

The photographs I make fall into two very different categories: landscape and still life. One requires being outdoors, in natural light, making visual sense of the world around me. The other takes place indoors, often with studio lights, creating what I wish to photograph from scratch. And yet, there is a synergy between the two.

As a landscape photographer, I am interested in the concept of place. It has been said that a landscape becomes a place when we attach meaning to it. I believe that to know a place, we must slow down—to see not only the big picture, but the intimate details that give it character; to observe not only the terrain and what grows there, but the history of the land and our connection to place; to become aware not only of what we see, but how a place makes us feel. It might be a geographic or cultural region, a local park, a fishing harbor, an historic site, a favorite beach, or even your grandmother’s garden.

For me, still life is an extension of what I’m photographing in the landscape. Although I love broad, open views, I am equally drawn to intimate scenes and details that convey a sense of place—those elements that give a place character and make it unique. Still-life photography allows me to spend more time with the smallest of these subjects, looking at them closely—whether the plants that grow in a garden, shells that wash ashore, fragments from old buildings, traditional crafts made from natural materials, or hand-forged tools used to work the land. They all help tell the story of place.

What are some of the objects, whether natural or manmade, that might convey a sense of place where you live? I would love for you to share!

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“To know a place, we must slow down—to see not only the big picture, but the intimate details that give it character; to observe not only the terrain and what grows there, but the history of the land and our connection to place; to become aware not only of what we see, but how a place makes us feel.”

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2024 Workshops and Online Courses

I have just wrapped up teaching six weeks of Advanced Nature Studio with a wonderful and talented group of photographers and am turning my attention to the landscape and the promise of spring. I will be be teaching three in-person workshops and one additional online course—each rooted in the concept of place, but in very different ways and locations. Click on the course titles for more information.

Landscape + Place: Photographing Close to Home

Online classroom. Six weeks beginning April 8. This is a course about seeing the familiar in new ways and overcoming the inertia, distractions and day-to-day responsibilities that often keep us from photographing close to home. Whether you have lived in a place your entire life or are exploring it deeply for the first time, there is no one more suited to photograph the place where you live than you. We’ll focus on ways to go beyond the single image to create meaningful bodies of work. (This is not a live class. You can view lessons, post assignments, review feedback and participate in discussions at your convenience.)

Spirit of the Garden

Maine Media Workshops, Rockport, Maine. June 24-28. In this 5-day workshop, we look beyond flowers to convey the spirit of the garden—its design, how it reflects the personality of its creator, what makes it unique, and what it feels like to be there. (And yes, we’ll photograph the flowers, too.) We’ll spend our days exploring both public and private gardens throughout Mid-Coast Maine.

An Intimate Portrait of Place: Santa Fe + Beyond

Santa Fe Workshops, Santa Fe, New Mexico. July 22-26. No place in this country has a richer, more unique history and culture than Santa Fe and northern New Mexico. In this workshop, we will step back in time to discover some of the region’s Native American, Hispanic and Anglo roots—visiting cultural landscapes and historic sites ranging from ancient ruins, cliff dwellings and pueblos to historic ranches, churches and the charming, walkable neighborhoods of Santa Fe.

An Intimate Portrait of Place: Coastal Maine

Maine Media Workshops, Rockport, Maine. October 7-11. Midcoast Maine will serve as our classroom as we look at what gives a geographic location a unique sense of place and how to convey that through images. We’ll photograph not only the landscape, but also designed and built environments. We’ll explore habitats such as the rocky shoreline, meadows, estuaries and woodlands, as well as working harbors, towns and historic sites.

Questions about the workshops? Drop me an email: leeanne@leeannewhite.com