Bruce Percy’s Photographic Vignettes

I used to see the undo button as creative freedom, a safety net that let me experiment without fear of losing my initial idea. But I've learned that endless options actually keep us stuck—we postpone finishing indefinitely because we can always go back. Commitment isn't something to fear—it's a key skill that brings real purpose and intent to my work, and it gives me the freedom to let go and move on to what's next.

In this episode I ask whether we can find beauty in industrial places — the sort of places we usually pass over because we see them as purely functional.

Revisiting your older work can bring insights and an awareness of how far you have come in the intervening years. It can also allow you, with the skills you have accumulated over the years, to complete work that you originally struggled with. 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. All images © Bruce Percy Bruce's Images shot on location in India 2009. 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

I've found that collections of images working together as a unified set often become greater than the sum of their individual parts. Rather than viewing photographs in isolation, I've discovered that assembling my work into meaningful portfolios allows for photographic style / voice to surface, and also makes the work more cohesive

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.

In this podcast, I discuss the importance of revisiting and developing a personal connection with certain landscapes or locations in photography. I emphasise that returning to places that resonate with you can result in them becoming personal motifs, themes that you keep returning to, and that help contribute towards your voice or style. Music © Bruce Percy 2024 Bruce Percy's Website : http://www.brucepercy.com

This episode discusses my journey as a photographer and my evolving perspective on the use of colour in my work. I explore how photographers learn to pay closer attention to their surroundings and notice subtle details, including color. I describe my initial attraction to vivid, dramatic colors as a beginner, but over time, I developed an appreciation for more muted, quieter color palettes. The podcast reflects on the pendulum swing between these two extremes, with me now finding a balance by incorporating more colour into my work while still maintaining the elegance and simplicity I have learned to appreciate. 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

Looking for cohesion and working with portfolios in mind can aid style and visual development. 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.

Light is the most important ingredient. Learn to work with different atmospheres and weather first, subjects can come later. 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.

As we mature as artists, we learn to discern which feedback is valuable to us, and to develop an inner confidence. This is crucial in helping us navigate our creative journey, even when faced with uncertainty. 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. Music © Bruce Percy Bruce Percy's Website : http://www.brucepercy.com

Looking for motifs in your work, can aid in style and visual development. 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.

What would you do if you had no undo? In this episode I wish to encourage photographers to consider how their creative process might change without the safety net of an undo button, potentially leading to more considered decisions or a greater willingness to take risks. 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. Website : http://www.brucepercy.com

Finding the right landscape in one's own photographic journey, can aid personal development. 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.

Photographs are dream states and working with imperceptible horizons can cast a spell upon your audience. 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.

Using the edges of the frame to add mystery. 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.

The landscape always has something to offer. If there are problems with the landscape, it is more often that the problem lies within us, not the landscape. 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.