Is studying geology helpful for photographers?

For anyone who has studied geology: has it been helpful for your life as a photographer who takes pictures outdoors? If so, how?

icor1031 wrote in post #19008479
For anyone who has studied geology: has it been helpful for your life as a photographer who takes pictures outdoors? If so, how?

I've studied it a little from the standpoint of a guide in a park system and also local arboretum, trying to be a better interpretive speaker. It's helpful in that it satisfied my curiosity to learn more, and it also adds to lectures and presentations I make of my work shot in these areas. My audience seems to appreciate the photography more because of this since I'm also providing an engaging backstory.

But in all honesty it's studying the time of day, the weather patterns and how the light HITS that geology that helps me to create images with the greatest impact.

sapearl wrote in post #19009051
I've studied it a little from the standpoint of a guide in a park system and also local arboretum, trying to be a better interpretive speaker. It's helpful in that it satisfied my curiosity to learn more, and it also adds to lectures and presentations I make of my work shot in these areas. My audience seems to appreciate the photography more because of this since I'm also providing an engaging backstory.

But in all honesty it's studying the time of day, the weather patterns and how the light HITS that geology that helps me to create images with the greatest impact.

I intentionally leave my questions broad, because there may be aspects I didn't think to consider. But let me narrow it now: I'm interested in geology so that I'll know the types of landscapes that exist and can then google to find their locations as needed. Is this a fool's path?

Acquiring any degree of education is rarely a "fool's path".

As a naturalist I am always reading and studying about the ecosystems in my area so I have a better understanding of the type of soil and therefore plants that I may encounter in a given area. Knowing these also leads to an understanding of the various insects, mammals, etc. that rely on specific elements of the environment. In my mind, it all starts with geology and weather and that leads you to understand species that thrive.

My bookshelf is loaded with these references which I time and again go back to when I desire to identify the subject of my image.

icor1031 wrote in post #19009052
I intentionally leave my questions broad, because there may be aspects I didn't think to consider. But let me narrow it now: I'm interested in geology so that I'll know the types of landscapes that exist and can then google to find their locations as needed. Is this a fool's path?

No, not a fools path at all and it clarifies your question a great deal. Just keep in mind that there more interesting things and factors that have the potential to make really great backgrounds. For instance if you want shale, you can easily find that in many stream beds and other natural places although it's less important the specific type. Just find that attractive ravine you want.

If you want cliffs you'll get faster results studying National/State Park literature, or talking to people at the local climbing club, or the nearest REI store where they sell climbing gear. There are many ways to find this information. You want interesting backdrops and environments. So unless you are shooting for a Scientific journal I think you'll get more productive results with the other methods I suggest.

Naturalist wrote in post #19009056
Acquiring any degree of education is rarely a "fool's path".

As a naturalist I am always reading and studying about the ecosystems in my area so I have a better understanding of the type of soil and therefore plants that I may encounter in a given area. Knowing these also leads to an understanding of the various insects, mammals, etc. that rely on specific elements of the environment. In my mind, it all starts with geology and weather and that leads you to understand species that thrive.

My bookshelf is loaded with these references which I time and again go back to when I desire to identify the subject of my image.

What would I study in order to learn about which plants to expect in certain areas?

icor1031 wrote in post #19009071
What would I study in order to learn about which plants to expect in certain areas?

From the naturalist's point of view, first determine the type of ecosystem in which you are interested. From there it's fairly easy to find reference material about the type of plant life you are likely to encounter in a specific zone.

Do you have any State or National Parks in your area? Visit them.

Typically they'll have a Visitor Center or Information Booth. The more elaborate parks will have very informative interpretive signage which talks about the things in which you're interested. The Rangers and Naturalists will also be very helpful, and you're really in luck if they have a nice gift shop with a good selection of books. These will typically be tailored to the local ecosystems.

What SAPearl says.

Don't know where you are located but you can start by searching your state's geology on-line and your state's (assuming you are in the USA) should have resources on-line from their department of natural resources.

sapearl wrote in post #19009084
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Do you have any State or National Parks in your area? Visit them.

Typically they'll have a Visitor Center or Information Booth. The more elaborate parks will have very informative interpretive signage which talks about the things in which you're interested. The Rangers and Naturalists will also be very helpful, and you're really in luck if they have a nice gift shop with a good selection of books. These will typically be tailored to the local ecosystems.
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The OP has a wealth of such areas within an hour or two of where he lives. . Devils Tower. . Custer State Park. . Badlands National Park. . Wind Cave national Monument. . Mount Rushmore. . Needles Highway. . And Fort Pierre National Grasslands, a bit further to the east.

Educating one's self about that which you want to photograph is very important. . Without knowledge, all one is apt to do is to look for "pretty pictures" to take. . But when one knows a lot about the landscape, then they have specific reasons for taking photographs.

One might want to take a photo that showcases the abrupt shift from one type of strata to another. . When you have a specific goal like that, then you look for positions to take the photo from, and ways to compose the photo, to best show the one thing that you are trying to illustrate in your photo. . The image then has a purpose; an objective. . That is very substantial, fulfilling photography, compared to just trying to take a picture that "looks nice".

There is also the relationship between soil type and vegetation, as well as the relationship between elevation and vegetation. . A knowledgeable landscape photographer will seek to take images that best showcase these relationships.

Exposed rock either has weathered surfaces or fractured surfaces, or fractured surfaces that fractured a long time ago, and are now in various stages of weathering. . The weathering itself will give insights into the types of minerals that are most prevalent in the immediate area.
Understanding this can help the photographer to locate the type of rock surface that best illustrates his image objectives.

Creeks and rivers can either have banks that are not incised, or incised to various degrees. . Knowing the bank structure of various stretches of the creeks that flow through a landscape can help the photographer understand the various changes that will occur to the riparian areas during and immediately after times of heavy rainfall and/or snow melt-off. . Bank structure will also clue the photographer in to where he will be most likely to find oxbows and other ephemeral pooling.

Knowledge of geological structure and substrate can also let the photographer know which areas and formations are more or less stable, and which are most prone to erosion. . The photographer may want to photograph the areas that are under the greatest threat of eroding away, so as to have a photographic record of them before they are forever changed. . For instance, rampant mudslides in my state have caused many areas to change drastically over the past 5 years. . It would have behooved someone to photograph those areas before they fell apart, so as to document what they were like before they were destroyed.

Basically if one is interested in something and passionate about it, the learning all one can about it will help that person to appreciate it even more. . Who wants to be the person photographing something that they don't know very much about? . That's kind of lame, isn't it?


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Geology is about licking rocks and drinking beer.

So, so, it doesn't help much.

But seriously, I don't think it helps. Unless you mean just looking at maps and Google maps/topography, photos of around the world etc... But I wouldn't call that 'studying geology'.

This sounds like an intriguing approach. I have often advised 'jaded' photogs or those looking for inspiration to think about their other interests and hobbies, then look at ways to combine them with photography.

I think geology would be a great subject to photograph, in many, many ways.

I have no training in the subject yet I have attended many geology conferences, when I ran a scientific instrument company making geochemistry instruments used to date 'rocks' very precisely - including putting a date on the world's oldest rocks - around 4.7 billion years old

Go for it!

Well, as Tom pointed out, the OP is definitely living in a geologically rich environment. The Black Hills are unique and the surrounding prairie grasslands are amazing.

OP
Start Googling "Western South Dakota Geology" and enjoy the rabbit hole! Lot's to learn and, just as importantly, GET OUT THERE.

icor1031 wrote in post #19009071
What would I study in order to learn about which plants to expect in certain areas?

Is this something you plan to start now - I'm thinking of the interesting seasonal variations you'll begin encountering - or is the whole thing just an intellectual exercise for some point in the future?

I would recommend studying art and photography to. Learning how to see and finding your personal path is key. As Stu brought up understanding light and how to see light will give you a foundation to work in any environment.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #19009263
I would recommend studying art and photography to. Learning how to see and finding your personal path is key. As Stu brought up understanding light and how to see light will give you a foundation to work in any environment.

I totally agree with what Allen is saying here - he's right on the mark, and much can be learned from the great landscape masters. One of my favorites is Albert Bierstadt who painted a great deal of the American West:

https://www.joslyn.org …t%20Teaching%20​Poster.pdf

And as Tom pointed out earlier you are surrounded by a LOT of really beautiful formations in your area. Now it's just a matter of going out and taking some pictures