Landscapes, whether natural or urban, are often overlooked by the hurried modern traveler. They do not demand our attention with the same urgency as a traffic light or a crowded billboard. But if we were to pause and see the world with the eyes of a landscape painter, a new depth would reveal itself. These artists have trained their minds to read the light, understand the subtle variations in weather, and seek stories in the soil, the foliage, and even the everyday detritus of a bustling city. By learning to think like them, a traveler can transform a simple snapshot into a work of art and find a more profound connection to the places they visit, one that is not hurried or superficial but is instead deeply felt and truly immersive.
Find Your Vantage Point
Before a landscape painter can begin to capture the world, they must first find their footing. This simple act is not just about physical comfort; it is about establishing a vantage point from which to absorb and compose the scene. As painter Timothy Wilson explains, he seeks out solid ground—a dry, flat rock or a well-trodden hill—to set up his easel. This practical choice allows him to focus entirely on his subject without worrying about his own stability. It’s a philosophy that holds true for any traveler with a camera.
Finding a place off the main trail to stop, breathe, and ponder the world is a vital first step to creating a meaningful photograph. New York City-based artist April Gornik describes travel as a deliberate act of “dislocating” oneself. The process of finding a place of ease, a sense of comfort within this new environment, is a crucial step in “relocating” oneself. The landscape, she says, is the “ultimate other,” and the act of engaging with it, of becoming familiar, is a healthy and necessary part of the travel experience. A good photo is not a fleeting glance but a considered moment, born from a place of ease and deliberate observation.
Embrace the Atmosphere: The Beauty of Bad Weather
Most travelers dream of bright, sunny days, believing that clear skies are the key to a perfect photograph. Yet, landscape painters know that some of the most dramatic and evocative scenes are created by stormy, overcast weather. The mid-20th century Florida Highwaymen, a group of Black painters known for their “fast painting” technique, often depicted their home state not as a sun-drenched paradise but as an atmospheric and turbulent environment. They captured stormy skies, wind-beaten palms, and ominous backcountry rivers, revealing a more complex and compelling side of the landscape.
Overcast skies produce a unique quality of light that both painters and photographers adore, one that can make colors and textures appear richer and more vibrant. As artist Timothy Wilson points out, “Painting is a science. The air changes what you see.” When storms roll in, the light is thrown into flux, creating a dynamic scene that is far more interesting than a static, sun-drenched day. Painter Kim Do takes this a step further, saying he “loves to paint the weather.” He uses the powerful metaphor of humans being the “lobsters of our planet,” living at the bottom of an “ocean of air.” He feels that painting the sky connects him to the great landscape artists of the past and is a profound way to capture the essence of our environment.
Seeking the Unseen: Finding Beauty in the Mundane
The grandiosity of a landscape is not its only source of beauty. A painter’s eye can find stunning palettes and compelling stories in the most unexpected of places, from construction sites to busy city streets. Artist Noa Charuvi, who splits her time between the urban environments of Jerusalem and New York City, finds inspiration in the seemingly banal. She is often drawn to demolition zones and construction sites, where she discovers a “surprising potential for beauty” in the colors of caution tape, orange buckets, and the unfinished wood of a half-erected skyscraper.
Charuvi’s approach is a valuable lesson for any traveler. Instead of feeling compelled to capture the perfect, postcard-like image of a famous landmark, it is often more interesting to capture the everyday life and hidden beauty of a city. The vibrant yellow of a street sign, the intricate pattern of red bricks, or the weathered patina on a building’s facade can tell a more authentic and compelling story than a thousand photographs of the Eiffel Tower. By seeking out these subtle details, we can pull joy and inspiration from any scene, no matter how ordinary, and connect with the endless, ever-changing nature of the world around us.
The Art of Lingering
Perhaps the most important lesson a traveler can learn from a painter is the value of lingering. In a world obsessed with efficiency and a desire to see as much as possible, we have lost the art of slowing down and truly observing. Painter Kim Do recounts an anecdote about a tourist bus in Barbados that would arrive every hour, with people rushing out, snapping a single picture, and then hurrying back on. He, on the other hand, spent an entire day in that one spot, immersing himself in the environment.
A truly meaningful photograph is not a quick snapshot but a result of patient contemplation. It requires us to figure out the “feng shui of a landscape,” as Wilson says—the harmony and balance of its elements. To create art or to deeply appreciate a place, we must train ourselves to let the world in, to be absorbed by it, to “be held.” As Do beautifully explains, there is a profound sense of connection that comes from feeling cradled by our environment. This is the entire point of both travel and art: that sense of deep, intense, and unhurried connection that can happen suddenly, but never happens quickly.
