Contemporary Picturesque

I think that the photographer intends to display a contrast with daily experiences by capturing the raw stillness of untouched nature. The water lies still, plants untamed, with no presence of man-made interference. This landscape is not easily accessible to the majority of people who are closer to the city. Seeing a landscape like this would suggest that you have the extra means (money, freedom) to travel to such serenity. The argument is the serenity that humans long for---ironically trying to escape the environment we've made for ourselves.

The target audience for this genre of photography is generally one that has a longing and appreciation for “untamable” nature. The photographer may have intended to show what little civilization has been able to view naturally–winding rapids in a forest of green, unobstructed by humans. This is a contrast to the industrialization of the modern age.

The photographer likely wanted to convey the beauty of nature’s wild terrain. The land is abrupt and rigid, split by a small stream in the middle. It is naturally shaped and untouched, a contrast to the commonly seen terrains viewed in everyday life. Though the land appears rough, its view appeals to people who seek challenges and exploration.

This landscape was taken in Iceland. The artist foregrounds within the photo a fairly desolate looking mass of land, in which lays a mirror perfect body of water. While Louisiana is renowned for its aquatic nature scenes, none of its water is nearly as crystal clear as this, nor as unmoving. Also, the variety of topographical scenery in this image--with the white-capped peaks in the distance and the foregrounded grassland--implies a setting that contains a multitude of landscapes, whereas Louisiana, for all its charms, is pretty one note. 

This image from Condé Nast Traveller, promoting Planet Earth III, targets consumers whose daily lives are confined to urban and domestic spaces. The vast African savanna, roaming elephants, and glowing sunset argue that a world of untouched wilderness exists far beyond ordinary life, appealing to the viewer's desire for escape and wonder.

Albert Bierstadt's art piece, A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie, creates a grand presentation of nature, which may contrast to a viewer's place of residence which may be a small village, large city, or flat landscape. The landscape presents the argument that the American, western landscapes are extraordinary, with the image depicting mountains reaching beyond the border of the painting.

This is a photo from one of my favorite backgrounds from the animated cartoon Steven Universe, In the show there are many different settings but this one brings a bit of a contrast between the usual beachside setting that many people experience in their day to day lives, compared to a tropical island uninhabited by humans. The show has magical creatures and aliens living on the island as opposed to humans.