New topographics was a term coined by William Jenkins in 1975 to describe a group of American photographers (such as Robert Adams and Lewis Baltz) whose pictures had a similar banal aesthetic, in that they were formal, mostly black and white prints of the urban landscape. These photographs generally represent the replacement of nature with man-made.
Quick Response
Over the whole of the Rural Landscape task, I believe these 3 images were my most successful. Image 1 is of a wall down at Ouasne, which I found very interesting- It looks as though it has just been cut directly in half, creating a 2d effect. The composition of the photograph is very level, as though somebody placed straight vertical lines across it as well as an almost gradient of light to dark from the bottom up. There are many small details within the photograph that make it more interesting than just that, for example the tree stump with roots that looks unusual. Originally, the image was very bright and saturated as this natural wall is actually orange, it was a good image that way and was very lively but to create the man reference to Wynn’s work, I changed it to black and white along with image 2 and 3. However I really loved the way it turned out. As mentioned in previous blogs, it really made the different tones pop out and created contrast within the image. Image 2 is a close up of a pile of rocks on the coast. It has a diagonal composition, and almost straight cut, with a few trees in the centre. I like the contrast of the rocks and trees; the trees being dark in tone and the rocks and sky being quite light. There are also a range of textures with the smooth sky and the rough rocks and trees. Image 3 was an instant final selection. I like the illusion of a fish eye view, whereas it was actually just the natural shape of the small hill- this links to Wynn’s idea of perception and how what I saw in his image was actually something completely different (although my image does not go to that extent). There are also some very light spots as well as dark spots, creating good contrast within the image.
For this shoot, I took a few photographs above portlet beach.
I chose a few images from my first selection and converted them to black and white, I also adjusted the contrast slightly to create a variety of tones, referring to Ansel Adams zone system of 0-10.
As you can see in the comparison above, the shadows are much darker and the brighter tones stand out much more. I also like the way that making and image black and white can trick the viewer, maybe making them question what exactly the image is and how close up they are to the focal point.
When taking my photographs for the landscape project, I captured one image that included the tower at Ouaisne. I figured that there must be at least one archive photograph similar to mine, and there was:
Above, I have chosen 11 of what I believe were my most successful photographs from the shoot. There are a variety of close ups, from far and both. Within these photographs there are also a variety of textures and natural colours. These were all taken around the same time on a very sunny morning, allowing a lot of contrast and shadows to come through. Although there are some strong, bright colours, I think that most of these photographs will look better in black and white, making the different tones pop out, and at the same time creating another link to the photographer I researched and analysed.
| Shoot 1 | Shoot 2 | Shoot 3 | |
| Where | Ouaisne | Portlet | Woods, dunes, les quennavais. |
| When | Saturday, clear sky. Morning, sunny and bright. | Also saturday, clear sky. Midday-afternoon, sunny. | A day where the sun is not out, perhaps the sky is dark or cloudly, maybe some light shining through. |
| What | Pictures of large rocky areas, especially in between Brelades Bay and Ouaisne- as well as pathways and and trees in the sun. | I can photograph the coast from a distance, or rocks in the sea. | Can photograph woodland, if its windy I can capture waves in the sea for dramatic effect- maybe them clashing the rocks at the wall or coming over it. Also the dunes. |
‘Romanticism was a particular movement in art that occurred during the first half of the 19th century. As a movement, romanticism had a particular emphasis on emotion and individualism, along with a glorification of the past. Painters, poets and writers drew particular inspiration from nature, which played a prominent role in their depictions. In particular, ‘nature’ was depicted as unsullied by the hand of man, or if humankind was evident, it was shown in a kind of symbiosis rather than exploitation. The imagery conveyed a sense of a golden age, but also one where the individual was central rather than peripheral to a group or to more prominent icons.’ To sum this up, whether its paintings or photography, Romanticism placed particular emphasis on emotion, horror, awe, terror and apprehension. Emotion and feeling were central not only to the creation of the work, but also in how it should be read.’
In art, romanticism looks like this^. The painting on an exaggeration of reality, but also beauty. The strokes that the artists use with a paintbrush are very smooth, creating a realistic view. You will also often see both dark and light in the painting with natural colours and sometimes gentle beams of light coming though the clouds. The majority of romanticism landscapes are dramatized.
‘Wynn Bullock was an American photographer whose work is included in over 90 major museum collections around the world. He received substantial critical acclaim during his lifetime, published numerous books and is mentioned in all the standard histories of modern photography.’ If you search his name online, you will find many black and white images like the ones below. They are full of natural structures, placements and show alot of contrast within them.
In 1948 Bullock met photographer Edward Weston (best known for his carefully composed, sharply focused images of natural forms, landscapes), who persuaded him that realism and tonal beauty were photography’s most valuable assets. Bullock changed his own style and strictly followed Weston’s teachings. Much of his work from that point on closely resembles Weston’s, especially in his choice of seascapes, landscapes, and nudes as subject matter. Bullock was very focused on the meaning behind such subject matter. He often intended his realistic images to be viewed as “equivalents,” photographic images that serve as visual metaphors for larger ideas, such as the passing of time and the inevitability of death.
At first glance, I see the top of a tall mountain, its foggy, gloomy and looks quite miserable. It seems as though everything is relatively close, you can see that there is depth however the fog is in the way. The photograph was taken in 1968, US- however it doesn’t suit its location. It seems quite mysterious and almost mystical due to that. The photograph is called ‘Sea Palms’. This definitely changed my perception of the photograph, as it made me realise what it was and made me want to ask questions such as the a picture of a beach was taken that way. When I invision the name ‘Sea Palms’, I imagine a sunny, joyful places full of colour, a beach with palm trees. This completely contrast the photograph presented under that name. Its not sunny its foggy, there is no beach in sight, no sea, only palms trees that look like hurt people kneeling over. Saying this, if the image was in colour, it may even have been what I invision (colourful, happy) but this was most likely planned, as well as the time and place- I think the photographer chose to visit this sight during fog on purpose. The photograph has also not been manipulated yet looks so unreal- which demonstrated the capabilities of nature. When actually researching ‘sea palms’, you will learn that they are small plants, a type of seaweed that grows on rocks. This completely changed my perception on the photograph- when looking at it you may see a very large cliffside with a few trees and a forest on one cliff on a very foggy day. However you may also see a rock pool covered in sea palms. The reason we may mistake the water for fog is because the photograph could have been taken at a low shutter speed, keeping the rocks still and capturing the water flow, which made it look super smooth. This would also explain the slight shift/movement blurr you can see within the sea palms.
When looking at the image I see a diagonal form.
The photograph gives off a very disturbing and depressing vibe due to the darkness, fog and drooping trees. As you can see, the image is also black and white which adds to it. The image has both smooth and textures points as well as light and dark tones. Referring to Ansel Adams zone system, this images contains all from 1-10 on the scale. This makes the image even more successful.
Bullock talks about how his photographs serve as visual metaphors for larger ideas, such as the passing of time and the inevitability of death. In this particular image, I see a representation of inevitability of death. The way I see it, is the white and almost opaque fog is death, and the photographer and the palm tress (as people) cannot cross to any other platform in the image without having to pass through it. Therefore creating the idea.
About the background of the time in which it was taken, its described as a time of ‘Shocking assassinations, much hatred war and spirit of rebellion and the dawn of the television age.’ These were the assassinations’ of Robert F Kennedy as well as Martin Luther King Jr. These people of very high authority, which inevitabely caused chaos. Not only this, but U.S. troop numbers peaked in 1968 with President Johnson approving an increased maximum number of U.S. troops in Vietnam at 549,500. The year was the most expensive in the Vietnam War with the American spending US$77.4 billion (US$ 569 billion in 2021) on the war. The year also became the deadliest of the Vietnam War for America and its allies with 27,915 ARVN soldiers killed and the Americans suffering 16,592 killed compared to around two hundred thousand PAVN/VC killed. The deadliest day of the Vietnam War for the U.S. was 31 January at the start of the Tet Offensive when 246 Americans were killed in action. With all these things going on in 1986, all the news was broadcast thoroughly due to the dawn of the television age.
This could change ideas on the photograph. Already knowing that it may represent the inevitability of death, it can be portrayed in more detail. One idea is that the water/fog represents the tear gas used in wars and the dark, drooping sea palms could represent society (depression, helplessness).
Rural landscape photography is where you photograph an outdoor area that is not quite populated- the photographs often include ‘natural recourses, food and fibre and wildlife habitat’. They are often full of life like fields, trees, flowers but also include beaches, sunsets etc.
