BA (Hons) Photographic Arts
“Untitled” – The name of this project would, to me, appear as the product of the photographs that will be created for my Final Major Project, up until the this project is completed, this is the title I will work under so that I do not put any limitations on the direction of this project.
I began this project by looking at the New Topographics and what I found to be most intriguing was in fact the vision this genre bought with it. And the ways in which they approached the notion of what a landscape truly is. In addition to the way they had made photographs which they had created a new vision for, it could be interpreted as one of blunt representation that allowed these photographers to express with clarity the message they wish to identify with their photos. I have researched the history of the park in order to highlight and outline the importance of the park in the past, and signify that it is just as important in this day and age. I would say I used a combination of research methods, such as using images to visually stimulate ideas, combined with textual research via the Internet and books to further increase my knowledge of the New Topographics. Reflecting on the research, I believe the amount and the type of research that was carried out was specifically for this project, quite satisfactory in supplementing my ideas. Although, for the final project, more research is required to further facilitate and develop my ideas for this project.
Through the pilot project, although it was began on slow, soon became successful after exploring a park/ nature reserve that has a history riddled with human presence and furthermore it combines a coalition between nature and humankind. By researching the New Topographics, and attempting to photograph with the same “blunt” manner, I began by photographing the landscape in Brighton. By focusing on the structures of the human altered landscape I began to delimit my idea of a landscape and began to identify what humans have accomplished.
This then brought to my attention a few question such as, what are the impacts we would have in nature reserves and if these expanses are “reserves”, then why does nature remain so regulated within and why does it not overgrow the boundaries of the human influences inside it? This consequently led me to believe even in protected expanses and natural landscapes, there is no such “virgin” piece of nature and that we manage these areas so that they remain within the boundaries of the reserve.
The pilot project begins to explore, quite comprehensively the impacts of human influences, however it is let down by the quality at times of the digital photographs in printing, additionally this landscape was not extensively documented with a crucial eye paying attention and identifying the subtle influences on nature. The final major project will exercise a keen eye for detail, with photographs exhibiting my concern as well as identifying the importance of this land.
Normally, the conventions of traditional landscape photography is implicated as consisting of a piece of nature gracefully constructed with mountains and dramatic skies, however this was a past interpretation of the genre. The New Topographics as previously mentioned re-created this idea of landscapes and the style of photograph that was used to depict these “landscapes” and so by following the
This pilot project and my Final Major Project can be considered as a mixture of both visions being implemented in the creation of these photographs. I would say by including a conventional and slightly unconventional depiction of a landscape these photographs respond to the evident (or even at times subtle) management of the land within this expanse of nature.
I have additionally considered that this park has in fact helped out in the past, providing aid to those in need of it, it served in both world wars. Providing shelter, land strips and wood all necessary amenities during those challenging times. I have additionally noticed that this park now is important to the visitors of this park who regularly trek the tracks and forests with their families or their pets, as well as the biological importance of this area. I wanted to consider the importance of this park within this project as a place that we can rely on in our time of need, and quite evidently, it lends its landscape to me for this project.
Production and Presentation
By choosing to remain a neutral presence within my photos, and by being an observer of the management I began the process of photographing the landscape within Black Park as one evidently, over numerous years; impact yet well integrated with humans. I was led to adventure into this land and locate whatever human influences were situated inside the park. However, not all was uncovered in one days therefore my focus on this place will remain key, I must for the major project, work extensively and remain excruciatingly focused on the subject of my project. By using large format film, I would be able to accomplish this, as I would need to focus on framing my photographs carefully paying attention the light and the atmosphere and the choice of subject.
I was at the same time reminded that by allowing my emotions to enter the photos similar to conventional landscape photography it may consequently alter the image’s outcome, therefore I will explore this furthermore in my project by including my emotions and choosing to strip these emotions away form the photos. The photos from these photographers were harshly lit, and bared no emotion yet expressed the concern that the land is gradually being transformed into a human-scape.
As previously mentioned, the prints for the pilot project although having come out quite well, lacked the detail and quality when the you came in close to the photographs seeming at times to viewers (quite rightly so) slightly over edited with a little too much aesthetic pleasure being emphasized. I want to in my final major project attempt to remain a tad more passive instead of applying to the images a contrast that seemed to bleach out details in some cases, work with a finesse in the while print making with the large format film.
Visual References / Bibliography
As previously mentioned, the New Topographics, particularly photographers such as Robert Adams and Lewis Baltz. These are photographers whom I have identified as personifying the qualities of the New Topographics, by blocking out their emotions they created clear depiction of a landscape impacted by humans. I have learnt by expressing my concern through the photographs of this project, I was able to document and clearly depict the notion of our influence in these nature reserves.
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