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Today I had a chance to attend a seminar and lecture where Joyce Tenneson, one of the most respected photographers of our time, presented her latest book entitled The View.
Tenneson has asked photographers around the world to submit photographs of a view that has somehow, and for some unknown reason, become unforgettable and meaningful to them in a deep way. Rather than simply beautiful landscape photographs, Tenneson is seeking to uncover something about universal perception - what it is about certain places or photographs that for some mysterious reason, speak to our heart in poignant manners.

Several years ago, Tenneson started investigating whether or not there had been any research done on why certain locations strike awe in the viewer, and why these locations are different for each person. For example, why is one person inexplicably attracted to the desert, or the mountains, or the ocean and what are the psychological forces behind this attraction? Tenneson found there was very little research that shed light on this phenomenon. This inspired her to organize and edit a book that includes not only photographs, but also short statements from each photographer describing the personal significance of that particular view. She plans to have the View Project expand to an interactive website where people from around the world can submit photos and share views that have deeply affected them as well.

I found it very inspirational, and a great chance to learn from a great photographer and a great person.