Transitions
My starting point is to visit the websites mentionned in the course notes to clarify what is required.
Jem Southam who made a series of photographs which depict the same place in different seasons observing the balance between nature and man's intervention and the cycle of decay and renewal.
The Third View which re-photographs sites originally photographed in the late nineteenth century by people such as Timothy O'Sullivan, William H Jackson, John Hillers and William Bell. This was carried out between 1997-2000. The aim was to show changes made in the landscape over a century. The time scale of this does not really lend itself to a single year, and yet minor changes to our land are constantly being made by weather and nature - and of course, major ones by man such as building on a green field site.
Paul Hill who has a perceptive and sideways look at landscape, often with a touch of humour.
My first idea as a subject is to record the changing scenes in a local apple orchard. There are many lines of trees which make their own perspective and the trees change through the season from bare in wet ground, to the early start of blossom through to miniature apples until harvest and finally the leaf colour change and drop. Although I will pursue this, I think there may not be as much scope as I thought as the whole orchard is effectively man made .
Therefore I shall now actively seek an alternative topic. I will be looking for a suitable location which will demonstrate that landscape is continually evolving. In accordance with my tutor's advice, I shall look for something that will not be too much of a cliche.
Extract from Tutor's email:-
"beware of the pitfall in photographing just 'nature'. It can be difficult to say something personal without it looking cliched. Refer back to the section on the picturesque. I'm not sure what your idea is but maybe you could aim for something that is definitely not picturesque - the 'wrong' light, the 'wrong' time of day. This may be more of a challenge and lead you to discover something new."
.
Jem Southam who made a series of photographs which depict the same place in different seasons observing the balance between nature and man's intervention and the cycle of decay and renewal.
The Third View which re-photographs sites originally photographed in the late nineteenth century by people such as Timothy O'Sullivan, William H Jackson, John Hillers and William Bell. This was carried out between 1997-2000. The aim was to show changes made in the landscape over a century. The time scale of this does not really lend itself to a single year, and yet minor changes to our land are constantly being made by weather and nature - and of course, major ones by man such as building on a green field site.
Paul Hill who has a perceptive and sideways look at landscape, often with a touch of humour.
My first idea as a subject is to record the changing scenes in a local apple orchard. There are many lines of trees which make their own perspective and the trees change through the season from bare in wet ground, to the early start of blossom through to miniature apples until harvest and finally the leaf colour change and drop. Although I will pursue this, I think there may not be as much scope as I thought as the whole orchard is effectively man made .
Therefore I shall now actively seek an alternative topic. I will be looking for a suitable location which will demonstrate that landscape is continually evolving. In accordance with my tutor's advice, I shall look for something that will not be too much of a cliche.
Extract from Tutor's email:-
"beware of the pitfall in photographing just 'nature'. It can be difficult to say something personal without it looking cliched. Refer back to the section on the picturesque. I'm not sure what your idea is but maybe you could aim for something that is definitely not picturesque - the 'wrong' light, the 'wrong' time of day. This may be more of a challenge and lead you to discover something new."
.
The Orchard
Transitions
Assignment 6
The brief for this assignment was to produce a series recording changes within the landscape through a period of time.
I have produced two series – the first is of an orchard through a growing year.
I have argued with myself as to whether this is a valid study of landscape because man cultivates it and the changes are, to some extent within his control. On the other hand, left to itself, this landscape would look very different – there would not be the straight lines to contrast with the rolling hills, nor the delicate shades of pink apple blossom in spring that lends an ethereal mantel over the tree-planted hillside. If one visits a forested area of Scotland, the fact that the Forestry commission has played a huge part in changing the landscape that, in no way, negate the enjoyment of the viewer and the changes he may witness on a day to day basis due to weather, time of year etc. Likewise areas in the beautiful Lake District have been previously ravaged by man, for example, the slate mining on the Old Man of Coniston. Now years have passed the scars left behind, repaired to some extent by nature, tell us of a real history of how our forebears lived in the same landscape that we are now, perhaps, enjoying as a leisure pursuit.
So I have proceeded to try and record the simple changes within the orchard in a year, whilst being very aware that what I am seeing today will be different in 10, 20, 50 years or even just next year.
Because of this ongoing argument I embarked photographing a semi- derelict shed with the intention of recording how nature reclaims. Soon after starting this project there was a huge change to my subject due to strong winds that swept the corrugated iron roof off. I saw how it fell on the ground, initially lying above the vegetation, and then as the year progressed how the weeds subtly softened the area. As we moved forward into Autumn, the shed became less accessible due to brambles and thistles growing up. As the growing year drew to a close a single poppy, unusual in September, bravely flowered above the dying weeds. This seemed a fitting epitaph for the shed. In all that time no human took an interest in the area. A pile of stones I first recorded thinking there were changes afoot were, in fact, waiting for use in a near by
field.
In conclusion, I saw that landscape, of whatever form, is constantly evolving. Images I recorded on one day could not be replicated even a fortnight later. Testimony to this was the day when I photographed some tree planting in the fog. A character was doing it with just a shovel. My memory card failed and the pictures were not recorded. Returning the next day, I found the job finished, the man and the fog and the stack of trees all gone. It was important to try and go out in all weathers to get the range of climate for which the UK is famous.
What new understanding have I come to during the course of these two projects?
Whilst a year is a very short time, there are plenty of changes to choose from. In making these pictures and returning time again to the same location I have begun to feel and affinity to and a fondness for both. The small changes in any landscape make more of an impact on me than before and I can relate better to some of the work recommended to be studied during the course.
I kept in excess of 500 images and struggled with the editing to make a coherent choice. I am aware that what I find of the utmost interest may not hold my viewer’s attention for long and it is important to keep the outline of my ”story” clear and not clutter it up with unnecessary visual extras. With this in mind, below I have selected some out-takes from some of the previously rejected group.
Assignment 6
The brief for this assignment was to produce a series recording changes within the landscape through a period of time.
I have produced two series – the first is of an orchard through a growing year.
I have argued with myself as to whether this is a valid study of landscape because man cultivates it and the changes are, to some extent within his control. On the other hand, left to itself, this landscape would look very different – there would not be the straight lines to contrast with the rolling hills, nor the delicate shades of pink apple blossom in spring that lends an ethereal mantel over the tree-planted hillside. If one visits a forested area of Scotland, the fact that the Forestry commission has played a huge part in changing the landscape that, in no way, negate the enjoyment of the viewer and the changes he may witness on a day to day basis due to weather, time of year etc. Likewise areas in the beautiful Lake District have been previously ravaged by man, for example, the slate mining on the Old Man of Coniston. Now years have passed the scars left behind, repaired to some extent by nature, tell us of a real history of how our forebears lived in the same landscape that we are now, perhaps, enjoying as a leisure pursuit.
So I have proceeded to try and record the simple changes within the orchard in a year, whilst being very aware that what I am seeing today will be different in 10, 20, 50 years or even just next year.
Because of this ongoing argument I embarked photographing a semi- derelict shed with the intention of recording how nature reclaims. Soon after starting this project there was a huge change to my subject due to strong winds that swept the corrugated iron roof off. I saw how it fell on the ground, initially lying above the vegetation, and then as the year progressed how the weeds subtly softened the area. As we moved forward into Autumn, the shed became less accessible due to brambles and thistles growing up. As the growing year drew to a close a single poppy, unusual in September, bravely flowered above the dying weeds. This seemed a fitting epitaph for the shed. In all that time no human took an interest in the area. A pile of stones I first recorded thinking there were changes afoot were, in fact, waiting for use in a near by
field.
In conclusion, I saw that landscape, of whatever form, is constantly evolving. Images I recorded on one day could not be replicated even a fortnight later. Testimony to this was the day when I photographed some tree planting in the fog. A character was doing it with just a shovel. My memory card failed and the pictures were not recorded. Returning the next day, I found the job finished, the man and the fog and the stack of trees all gone. It was important to try and go out in all weathers to get the range of climate for which the UK is famous.
What new understanding have I come to during the course of these two projects?
Whilst a year is a very short time, there are plenty of changes to choose from. In making these pictures and returning time again to the same location I have begun to feel and affinity to and a fondness for both. The small changes in any landscape make more of an impact on me than before and I can relate better to some of the work recommended to be studied during the course.
I kept in excess of 500 images and struggled with the editing to make a coherent choice. I am aware that what I find of the utmost interest may not hold my viewer’s attention for long and it is important to keep the outline of my ”story” clear and not clutter it up with unnecessary visual extras. With this in mind, below I have selected some out-takes from some of the previously rejected group.
The Old Shed
Out-Takes from The Orchard
Out-Takes from The Old Shed
These are alternative views of the same subject, mainly in the "nature-reclaims" section.