Any photographer can take a picture of what they see, but capturing the feelings in the moment requires a special kind of vision. Peter Gold has perfected this skill, creating photographs that go beyond the ordinary and turn each image into a visual story. I had the pleasure of interviewing Peter about his latest photography book, the second in his series, called Visual Impressions II, to gain insight into his creative process and explore the emotions behind his work.
Peter Gold, an acclaimed portrait, wedding, and commercial photographer, has been a prominent figure in the industry since 1972 when he founded Gold Photography in Alberta. In Visual Impressions II, viewers are invited to journey through a collection of images that serve not only as art but as timeless snapshots of fleeting moments.
What inspired you to create another book in your Visual Impression series?
"After speaking to some of those people that had purchased my first book, they said that my images impacted how they now see the beauty all around them. My Visual Impressions II book is a continuation of the original theme, except that the first edition had the images divided into two sections, Nature and Man, and the second volume has opposing pages with similar viewpoints.
Going through my archives of images, I realized that I search for powerful composition, light, colour and impact in subjects most people are oblivious about. I created this book to inspire other photographers to see the beauty in day-to-day situations.
About 20 years ago, my wife and I were touring one of the Caribbean islands. I stopped our walk and began to photograph the intricate storefront wall that was composed of hundreds of odd-sized rocks cemented together - all done by hand. It must have taken days to complete. After photographing this wall up close, a few people asked what I was doing. I explained. Suddenly, out came their cameras, and they joined me. They didn't see the beauty until they had stopped and looked."
What are you hoping people will take away after exploring your book titles?
" The photographs in both my books will hopefully inspire people to see the world in a new light. Whether at home or on vacation anywhere in the world, images are waiting to be created. You need to have an open mind. Look for areas with a contrast of colour or density or both. Does the scene have any impact on you? Try to capture it. Quick snapshots don't cut it. If you examine the Old Master paintings, they are successful because they generate a feeling, and yet the subject in the painting might be a simple image of a horse and buggy next to a farmhouse. The time of day, the colours, etc., all come together to create the feeling of being there."
What is a Visual Impression to you?
" I, personally, don't spend much time creating a setting for a photograph. It happens very spontaneously. I have to feel something. Then, once I decide to capture it, I will check out the possible composition choices and which focal length lens would be best. Years ago, when I was using Hasselblad cameras, zooms were not born yet. I had four lenses of different focal lengths, and that was it. So over time, I trained myself to look at a scene and see it cropped at the different focal lengths. I still do that.
A Visual Impression is a photograph that can capture the feeling that I had when I was in a particular space or with a particular subject."
What advice do you have for someone interested in self-publishing?
" For me, I was testing the waters, so to speak. I self-published basically for me.
There are publishing houses that can publish whatever you want, and reasonably. The only issue is you have to order 500 or 1000 books. I didn't want to live with them .
You need to have a theme for the collection. It is helpful to have your collection curated by someone else, as well. Preferably not your mother.
The quality of the finished product needs to be first class as well. The majority of photobook companies create books which are fine for storing a collection of snapshots from your last vacation. But the paper stock, cover choices, and image quality suffers.
Choose a publisher that has the experience of generating top-quality work that you will be proud to share.
Click here to purchase Visual Impressions II.
Price: $84.87
Peter Gold has created award-winning portrait, wedding and commercial photography since 1972 when he established Gold Photography in Alberta. In the realm of photography, there are those who capture what they see, and then there are those who capture what they feel. Peter Gold belongs to the latter group. A master photographer with a keen eye for detail and a profound understanding of his subjects, Peter’s work transcends the boundaries of ordinary photography, transforming each frame into a visual narrative. www.goldphotography.com
