Personal Study – A level Photography

For my personal study, I am going to investigate landscape photography: specifically, trees

and the relationship between humans and them. Throughout my essay, I will be detailing 3
sections of the personal study. Firstly, the narrative. This will underline my personal
interpretations, investigations and historical/critical context. Secondly, the techniques:
Landscape photography is a very broad genre. Therefore, creating techniques to funnel
down a certain path of photographic practice is always a must. Lastly, the equipment used
to undergo capturing landscape imagery and the safety precautions needed when
undertaking landscape camerawork.

Narrative
I would like to investigate trees and how they form a landscape as I’ve always had an
interest in how they grow and appear in a landscape. Trees can be gigantic and historic and
some survive for hundreds of years. There are many trees that humans have kept in
protection as they are a symbol of historical context. This is because as humans, we have an
emotional response to them. They have a meaning to us which is why we take part in them
and the natural landscape that is attached to them.

Kingston Lacy is a country house local in Dorset that contains a Lime tree avenue. This
avenue has created a parallel line of lime trees. It is very composed and organised, being a
historical landmark for landscape creation.

Close to Kingston Lacy, there is another similar road which contains an avenue of trees. This
beech avenue (contrasting from the lime avenue) forms a line alongside the road near the
house’s entrance drive. “here were 365 trees on one side for each day of the year and 366
on the other, for a leap year”. They were planted by William John Banks in the 1830’s. This
shows how we as humans have an emotional connection to trees; through showing our
presence of time with them. I think this idea is very evident as when you look at the avenue,
it creates a tunnelling effect with the eye, especially since the trees branches simulate a
tunnel atmosphere. William Banks could have easily just created a fence or dry-stone wall.
However, I feel the trees are a statement. They are one of the most predominant and
attractive types of natural structures. Trees have the ability to inspire us, be leading our
eyes down the road with linear lines. They somewhat tell a story and that inspires others to
share stories and ideas.
 Personal Study – A level Photography
A famous story is of The Tolpuddle Martyrs Tree. Six agricultural labours met under a tree to
discuss the exploitation by their employers. It was the start of a trading union and the tree
now represents an “important contribution to our nation and are a vital part of our history”.
It was protected by pollarding because of the events that happened under it and has
created an emotional response to the natural landscape.

Some take strange paths to reach light which makes them stand out in the landscape they
are grown in. They create and form different and unique for photography. All of this is
interesting to me and I would like to investigate trees and see how I can find out how the
way trees influence a landscape. I particularly like trees that are planted in patterns and
avenues, as they possess a certain rhythm to them. I want to explore this as well and
investigate local places that have these planted tree patterns. For examples, the trees of
Wistman’s wood close to Dartmoor are a type of tree that grow from the surface of rocks
covered in moss. As the trees are by the coastline, there are taken under the effect of heavy
wind conditions. They become windblown and slant to the direction of the wind to prevent
further wind resistance. I witnessed this myself in other areas such as Hamworthy Common.

This is an image I took from Hamworthy Common. As you can see, the trees are slightly
slanted from the strong prevailing wind coming from the sea.
 Personal Study – A level Photography

“Popular Avenue, Srinuggur, Kashmir, from the end, 1864

Photograph: Samuel Bourne/ Victoria & Albert Museum, London”
This shows how famous photographers in the past have always been fascinated with trees
and their structure in nature. Lines of trees create linear pathways and as humans we are
drawn to these.

Landscape architects often manipulate trees to enhance the aesthetics surrounding the
environment. A good example is Chatsworth House and the gardens that surrounds it. There
is a river that has been manipulated into a water cascade by Victorian architects. It shows
how we are able to develop and control the environment.
 Personal Study – A level Photography

Techniques

The rule of thirds technique is a composition method heavily used within landscape due to
it building a balance and drawing even more attention to the details of the image. It is
heavily integrated into other techniques as it is very combatable such as leading lines and
building positive and negative space. Positive and Negative space means that the
photographer has to know how much information and material is inside the frame at once.
Using this technique well means you are able to build a balance between the positive and
negative space inside the image. Positive space is the significant property of the picture and
the negative space is the space with little information. Too much positive space creates a
noisy and frantic image and too much negative space creates emptiness and bareness.
Depending on what the images emotions are supposed to convey, the photographer
should find a balance, or use too much positive or negative space to their benefit.
 Personal Study – A level Photography
A lot of landscape photography is cantered around keeping the camera in a landscape fixed
frame. However, experienced photographers break this habit and try to use portrait
prioritisation to capture some photographs. This is because a photo which was taken in
landscape may have looked better in portrait, but when going into editing you will not be
able to alter the original frame, without cropping or enlarging the image. By doing this, you
may lose the material in the image which you were initially trying to display. Therefore,
shooting the same perspective in landscape and portrait means you can edit it in production
both ways. Many things in nature don’t look well inside a landscape frame. For example,
trees are natures main leading lines that go upwards. Therefore, it creates the effect of
making them look taller and powerful.

Many landscape photographs require a certain type of weather or lighting to be effective.

Nature typically does things in cycles, but can’t always be predictable. Therefore, being
patient and waiting for the right lighting to come is a technique many professional
photographers should possess. To enhance your chances of getting that perfect lighting for
a landscape photograph, finding the perfect time of day being called the ‘golden hour’ can
bring enhanced results. These methods are heavily used within long exposure photography
as they are keen on timing, location and patience.

Equipment
Photography equipment is a key enabler to enhance the viewing experience during the
photoshoot. Landscape photography uses many different types of equipment to get the job
done. However, it doesn’t ensure the photographers will turn out the technical equipment
can only enhance what the photographers wants to do. Equipment emphasises what is
already happening, it cannot create something that isn’t there. The photographer’s
techniques and skill always reign supreme. How the photographer uses the equipment is
what matters.
Lens filters are a key piece of the photographer’s tool kit used to refine or add visual weight
to the image. For example, the polarising filter is a useful lens which covers half the camera
with a darkened deeper contrast. Typically used on the sky when it is clear outside. The
darkened side of the filter does reduce the amount of light that reaches the sensor.
Therefore, making the that area seem darker. The differences between positive and
negative spaces are highlighted between objects and structures. It is obvious to tell if a filter
has been used as the positive and negative space remain separate. For example, Ansel
Adams captured a photograph of a mountain (Monolith, the Face of Half Dome), through
the use of a lens filter. He initially used a yellow filter to start with that didn’t work, but then
changed to dark red filter and “Adams considered it a seminal moment in his
development as a photographer.” (#) The red filter created a contrast between the rock
and the sky which emphasised the white snow on the mountain. It changed the emotional
feeling of the photograph and it was one of the first images to implement the ‘Zone system’
(4).
 Personal Study – A level Photography

Taking a successful landscape photoshoot will require planning beforehand. There are many
things the photographer can do to increase your chances of having an effective photoshoot.
Firstly, as with all landscape photographs, it will be outside. Checking the weather forecast
is very critical due to the appropriation of the photograph required. If you’re looking for a
certain type of lighting the weather will need to be rain, snow wind etc. Different weather
however, can create interesting landscape pictures which may create an altogether
different emotional response than you first presumed. Clouds will create different directions
of lighting which may frustrate some photographers. Therefore, a clear sky is good for
consistent lighting, but creates too much bleached sky. Therefore, working around the
weather is the best choice.

Knowing the area in which you are capturing is a key component of landscape photography.
It assures you know the whereabouts and routes specified in the location. It also certifies
you are efficient with the timekeeping. As you will not be getting lost or stumble into an
unexpected area. The paths and routes should be known, either by searching online or
contacting a tour guide. It also benefits for the different composition shots you could take.
As awareness of your surroundings ensures your safety and the efficiency of the image
capturing flow.
 Personal Study – A level Photography
Conclusion:
Throughout this essay, I have looked at the narrative, techniques and equipment used
within landscape photography. During the narrative, historical context was brought into
discussion, investigating how the natural landscape has been protected and manipulated.
Examples include: The beech and Lime parallel tree avenues, tunnelling effect with the eye
and inspiring trees, by leading our eyes down pathways such as roads with linear lines.
Examples of these that were looked at are Wistman’s wood Dartmoor, Srinuggur, Kashmir,
Kingston Lacy and the Tolpuddle. The photographic techniques I have investigated include:
rule of thirds, positive and negative space, portrait prioritisation, golden hour and long
exposure. These techniques have helped to convey a balance or enhance the emotional
response to the photographs. Finally, the equipment used. I have addressed that
equipment can only emphasise what is already happening and therefore, can’t create a
piece of good photographic work that isn’t already there. Lens filters have been evident to
merge the contrast between the environment to make the effect even more diverse than
what is already visible. I have shown this through investigating Ansel Adams ‘Zone System’
to express landscape photography and how it changes the reaction.

(1) The Tolpuddle Martyrs Tree (2009) [Online] Available: http://www.ancient-tree-

hunt.org.uk/discoveries/newdiscoveries/2009/The+Tolpuddle+Martyrs+Tree
(29/01/18)

(2) Kingston Lacy (Historic England) (January 2004 Amended: April 2004) [Online]
Available: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1000718
(29/01/18)

(3) Kingston Lacy (Dorset Life) (December 13, 2013) [Online] Available:
http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2013/12/treasures-of-dorset-the-beech-avenue-
kingston-lacy/ (29/01/18)

(4) Understanding & using Ansel Adam’s Zone System (20 March 2013) [Online]
Available: https://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/understanding-using-ansel-
adams-zone-system--photo-5607 (29/01/18)

(5) Wistman’s Wood to Bellever Tor (15th October 2015) [Online] Available:
http://www.southdownswalking.com/wistmans-wood-bellever-tor-dartmoor-walks/
(29/01/18)

(6) Into the woods: trees in photography (Samuel Bourne V&A Museum, London) (15
Nov 2017) [Online] Available:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2017/nov/15/into-the-woods-
trees-in-photography (29/01/18)

(7) Long Exposure Landscape Photography (digial-photography-school.com by Tim

Gilbreath) [Online] Available: https://digital-photography-school.com/8-steps-to-
great-long-exposure-landscapes/ (29/01/18)
 Personal Study – A level Photography
Essential guide to woodland photography – amateurphotographer.co.uk (March 20, 2015)
[Online] Available:
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/technique/landscape_photography-
technique/woodland-photography-46578 (29/01/18)

6 Top Landscape Photography Tips From A Landscape Pro – ephotozine.com (22 Dec 2017)
[Online] Available: https://www.ephotozine.com/article/6-top-landscape-photography-tips-
from-a-landscape-pro-18060 (29/01/18)

8 Top Tips On Using Polarising Filters – ephotozine.com (17 August 2017) [Online] Available:
https://www.ephotozine.com/filterzone/article/8-top-tips-on-using-polarising-filters-24373
(29/01/18)

Neutral Density Filter – Wikipedia [Online] Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral-

density_filter (29/01/18)

Landscape Photography Composition Tips – photographylife.com (December 7, 2017)

[Online] Available: https://photographylife.com/landscapes/landscape-photography-
composition-tips (20/01/18)

Rule of Thirds – photographylife.com (December 8, 2017) [Online] Available:

https://photographylife.com/landscapes/rule-of-thirds-does-it-really-work

http://anseladams.com/new-modern-replica-monolith-face-half-dome/