Adam Fowler Photography

Edinburgh based photographer working in landscape and documentary. I used to make video games. See more here adamfowlerphotography.co.uk

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What was once a walk through woodland has transformed. The trees have all been felled and removed. A woodland walk is now a path across bare exposed hill. The path in question makes it way through privately owned forestry land which had obviously recently matured. The land looks devastated. It is strewn with the debris and stumps from the recent forestry work. If you can look past the wasteland though there are now lovely views of the Clyde and surrounding mountains that were once blocked by the monoculture of spruce trees. Otherwise look closely at the wasteland and you will be able to see the next generation of trees have been planted, the cycle begins again and eventually the woodland will return.

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The Field

The field is a photographic diary of a single field. The field in question is not particularly exceptional. It lies on a slight undulating hill. It is bordered by a railway line. Many of the images recorded on the field could be from many other fields. I first passed the field on my bike. Attracted by the curves of the barley whose heads were too heavy for their stalks I returned with my camera. I then continued to visit the field drawn by the contrast between its apparent static appearance and the dynamic changes it underwent while I was absent. Sometimes when I visit, it can be quite hard to create a compelling image and other times I looked at other fields and wondered should I have chosen that field as it was much better looking at that point in time but I have been loyal and stuck with my original field.

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An Unintended Monument

On 26th September 2015 the chimneys and turbine hall of Cockenzie power station were demolished. A landmark that could be seen for many miles disappeared. A lot of people were happy to see them go. They considered them a blight on the landscape. But I will miss them. They were part of the terrain of East Lothian for me. You could stand on Portobello beach in east Edinburgh and on the horizon you would see the two main landmarks of the East Lothian coastline. North Berwick Law and the chimneys of Cockenzie. I have used both of these as anchors to many an image taken along that coast.

[adamfowlerphoto]

Early Morning, Portobello

I arrive at the beach just before sunrise. There is no one on the beach except myself. The seagulls hang around in gangs, moving on whenever you get too near. There is an occasional cormorant hanging their wings out to dry. Eventually the first of the dog walkers and runners start to appear. A few cycle commuters pass along the promenade. As time passes there is a fairly regular but still infrequent parade of runners and commuters moving along the promenade. More dog walkers start to populate the beach. On a rare moment a walker will stop to talk to another. The dogs always stop to say hello to each other. Just before 7 a group of people start to collect outside the Portobello swimming baths waiting for them to open on the hour. On some days braver swimmers can be seen putting on wet suits before going for a dip in the sea. There is a lull in the activity on the beach as if the early crowd have all passed through and we are waiting for the day to start proper. Before then I pack up my camera and make my way home.