Photoshoot one: For my first photoshoot, I am planning on going to the woods to take photos of the damage that has been caused due to the storm. I like this idea because it is a good way to view landscapes in a different way, instead of it being presented in a romanticised way.
Photoshoot two: For my second photoshoot, I am going to visit different landscapes around the coast and photograph the cliff sides/beaches and include aspects of the sublime.
Intro –
For this Photoshoot I took inspiration from Landscape Photographer Ansel Adams and based my images of his work. Mainly taking landscapes of storm damage, rather than expanses of areas with untouched natural beauty, I aim to show the natural effect of destruction caused nature.
Noirmont – Storm Damage.
I like how this image turned out as the depth of field covers largely into the details of damage, with a path of destruction stretching from foreground all the way to the background, The suns casting of light across the fallen trees creates a stark contrast in tone. What can be improved is the focus as Some parts of the image had blurs or out focus patches.
Although not technically a landscape, the detail of this image is what enticed me to adjust and edit this image. With a good use of golden natural light, the shadows hugging around the back facing part of the tree creates a engaging point of interest within the image when converted into black and white.
Having the same conceptual use of visualisation, like Adams I had an idea on how I wanted to create this image. With a good composition of trees, fallen debris on the ground, shrubbery and moody clouds in the background the mise-en-scene of this image was further improved with more definition being put on the lights contrast to shadow and reflection of sun on the blades of grass.
This image, to me, turned out well. With a good composition the bushes to the left and trees to the right frame the larger trees in a suitable position to catch the viewers eye. With the trunks silhouettes against the white wall of clouds the top canopy emerges above them on a shade of grey. Coincidentally, this creates a interesting effect to the image. Furthermore with the cleared out area in the foreground, Tire tracks act as leading lines into the area, with the trees reflected in the puddle, it acts almost as a metaphor of what used to be there in that cleared out area.
Needing more space, I would still count this as a landscape due to the depth the picture has into the woods. With the camera centred into the pathway, I waited for the clouds to clear to allow more natural lighting into the frame. Like previous images the natural contrast of tones in light is what I find captivating in these images.
Although close the nature, I feel as if I have captured the concept of storm damage well in this image with the 3 tree trunks and pile of logs showing the extent of damage caused to Jerseys local environment. Shown to stick out like a fork the 3 tree trunks define themselves within the image against the greyer toned trees in the background. To me this exemplifies their importance as by dragging the attention with their altered shape, compared to the undamaged trees in the rear, their changed appearance conveys a deeper effect both visually and metaphorically.
St Brelade – Damage and landscapes
With the beams of pure light emerging in the crevices of the grey clouds, the landscape contrasts with darker tones and the seas lighter horizon line. With houses to the right and view of the rock face and sea to the left, this creates a balanced composition within the image. Lines in this image can be seen from the field below the houses, to their roofs, in the clouds and across the sea, acting like stairs, the viewers eyes can travel from these lines up the image.
With the lighter toned building, its presence is well contrasted through edits to stand out from the darker tones nature that surrounds it. Although more fitting for the next subject (‘The New Topographics’), I saw it as a fitting image to the concept of Romanticism, which Adams was inspired by for his shoots.
Sandwiched in the middle, the lighter tones of fallen branches is surrounded by the much larger, fallen and still standing trees from the bottom to the top. In this image, I find that the darker toned trees acts as representation to the fallen trees in the past, acting as a shadow to their former stature. The fallen trees and branches however, much more brighter in appearance show their present manner.
Exposure bracketing is when you take two or more images of the same thing, one over exposed and one underexposed, and then merge them together. When merged, the final image has the best details from each photographs creating a photograph with a higher dynamic range. Exposure bracketing can be done by using the specific mode on a camera which, when you use it, it takes multiple photos at once so that they can be merged.
I took these three photos below, one overexposed, one underexposed, and one normal so that I can merge them together.
After selecting the three photos, I clicked photo merge and then HDR. This is the final outcome:
Edits of Best Photos
For this photoshoot I tried to focus more on the romanticism style of work where they often had the paintings including the sea and nature.
Editing Process
For this photoshoot I tried HDR image merging where you set your camera so the exposure will change each photo you take so the first image will be under exposed then normal/neutral and the last one will be over exposed. So then later in photoshop you select all three images and merge the three together so it creates this new image.
First version of images
The image beneath I think was one of my most successful due to the interesting position of the focal point. On that image you find that the cliffs are curving around the image which I find adds more dimension to the image but also it makes the photo stand out compared to the rest of my photos as the others just tend to have the focal point in one half of third of the image.
overall I’m really happy with how this photoshoot came out I think all the images capture some of the essence of romanticism paintings with having these beautiful landscapes of the natural coast and also the sea which is commonly used in original romanticism paintings.
second version of images
In the first edit I had the in colour which works well with romanticism however I I edited these more in the style of Ansel Adams by turning the images into black and white and then increasing the contrast and the level of the colours while they were in black and white so that certain colours turned out darker and others light like the system below.
I think that these edits are a lot more interesting than the first ones because they have that dramatic aspect and effect to them now. These images all have lots of the different zones from the zone system Ansel Adams used which creates this amazing detail which you may not have been able to see before due to maybe the colours being too similar but in black and white they really stand out.
I think this image above might be my favourite with this style of editing as it really reminds me of Ansel Adams work with the darker sky still with the lighter areas which gives it more texture and detail. However it also works really well with romanticism with the sea which was a common thing to be painted but with the lighthouse and the rocks surrounding it makes it more unique. I also think the sharp darker line from where the sea and the sky meet creates this mazing and contrast between the two elements.
Creating a HDR image in Lightroom
In order for me to create a HDR image, I first selected my three bracketed images that are of the exact same landscape.
I then right clicked on them and scrolled down to Photo Merge and selected the HDR option.
This pop-up then shows up and once I am satisfied with the image I selected ‘merge’.
I then label my HDR images with a star rating so that I know which ones they are.
Bracketing Photoshoot – HDR Photos
I have made a virtual gallery in Photoshop for 4 different photoshoots I have made in this landscape project. These consist of:
I also chose 3 different empty gallery images off Google which I think are the best choices to display these photos. I have picked between 2-4 photos from each photoshoot which I think are my strongest images and display my work the best.
Ansel Adams Inspired Photography.
Storm Ciaran Destruction Photography.
The Sublime Inspired Photoshoot.
Storm Ciaran
Storm Ciaran hit Jersey Channel Islands Wednesday 2nd November 2023. Jersey was hit by a tornado and extremely strong winds lashed the island. This caused dozens of people to be evacuated from their homes. Schools, work, shops were shut due to this storm and the whole island was advised to stay inside until the next day due to the really unsafe conditions and unsafe damage.
“It’s really clear certain areas of the island have really been hit hard this time and the damage is very significant.”
“We’ve all seen footage of some really serious damage that has been done but it will take some time to be able to assess all of that.”
The government asked any islanders planning to return to their properties and assess damage should only return “if it is absolutely safe to do so.”
“For properties that have sustained significant damage, we strongly advise seeking the opinion of a property surveyor or structural engineer before entering and or trying the collect belongings.”
Lots of damage was caused, mainly in St Clements, as that is where the storm/ tornado hit the worst. Damage occurred to;
This has taken a while to fix, even though some of the damage still has not been fixed yet. This also costed the Government and many people lots of money and time to fix this damage created by the storm.
Examples of tree Damage
These images were taken by other people in jersey a few days after the storm, when there was much more damage and fallen trees still around, before the clean up. This is an example of how powerful Storm Ciaran was.
Examples of house Damage
These images were of peoples homes not long after Storm Ciaran, and these images present just how powerful the storm and the wind was, to be able to knock down walls, and take off roofs etc.
Examples of other buildings Damage
These images were also taken not long after the storm of other buildings, which were not people’s homes. These images also present how strong and powerful, while also dangerous the Storm and the winds were.
Examples of Rough Waves
These Images were taken of the waves during the strong winds of the storm. These waves help present how rough and strong the storm and winds were, to be able to produce these mighty waves.
My Storm Damage Photos
The images that I have highlighted green are the images I have chosen to edit, because I think they show all the different damage the storm did the best, while also having the best focus and composure.
House Damage
I took these photos in my bedroom in St Helier near Harve De Pas. The storm damaged my room, by causing flooding, which you can see with the water on the floor. This then caused the walls to wear away, and then have to be knocked down.
Edits
I edited these pictures by increasing the exposure, contrast, shadows, whites, vibrancy and saturation, while also decreasing the highlights and blacks, so that the photo would be brighter, and so the white walls would have less of a grey tint and look more of a clean white. I also did this, so the image would be brighter and have less blacks through it, so that all the damage was more visible.
The final edited images then came out like this. In this image you can see the hole in the wall in the corner, where the water is flooding in, as well as the damage it has done to the walls and floor. You can also see lose wires that have been hung up, so they do not fall in the water, so they will not cause any electrocutions.
I edited this photo by increasing the exposure, contrast, shadows, whites, vibrancy and saturation, while decreasing the blacks and highlights, so that the room and walls looked much brighter, and so the water on the floor was more visible.
This is how the final edited image came out. You can still see the damage to the corner of the room, but you can also see the water on the floor now, and a broom which was used to tidy some of the damage.
I edited these photos in the same way, by increasing the exposure contrast, whites, shadows, vibrancy and saturation, while decreasing the blacks and highlights, so that the images were more vibrant and visible. However, on the second image I also increased a yellow tint, because the original image had a slight blue tint.
This is how the final edited images came out. They show the huge damage done by the storm to the walls in my bedroom.
Tree Damage
I took these images near the Post Office in St Clements. The storm has caused many of these trees to have fallen over and fallen all on top of each other. This presents how powerful and strong the wind was from the storm to be able to blow all these trees down. Many bigger trees were cleared up just days after the storm, but smaller trees in non-hazarded places are less of an urgent concern. In these images there was also damage to the fence surrounding the trees, which you can see.
Edits
These first images I took had quite a blue tint on them, so I had to adjust it and add more of a yellow tint to be able to cancel the blue out. Then, I edited these pictures in the same way, by increasing the contrast, shadows, whites and vibrancy, while also increasing the saturation on the first one. Then, I decreased the exposure highlights and blacks on both. I did this, so that the colouring was better and brighter on each image, so that the image was more accurate compared to what I saw.
The final images then came out like this, where you can see all the fallen trees piled on top of each other, while also being able to see the damage done to the fence surrounding the trees in the second image.
Once, I realised my photos were coming out with a blue tint I played around with my camera settings adjusting them, so that there was no longer a blue tint.
I edited these images, by increasing the contrast, shadows, whites, vibrancy and saturation, while also decreasing the exposure, highlights and blacks, so that the image looked less dull and the damage done by the storm could stand out more.
The final edited images then came out like this. You can clearly see the damage done to the trees, as they are all fallen and on top of each other, while also seeing the damage done to the fence surrounding it. This presents how strong the storm must of been to be able to cause all this damage.
I edited these images by increasing the exposure, contrast, shadows, whites, vibrancy and saturation, while decreasing the highlights and blacks, so that the image would be brighter and more visible, as the images were taken when it was dark.
The final images came out like this. These images are not the best, as they were taken on my phone, because I only spotted this, while on a dog walk and did not have my camera, so they could have been better quality. However, I think the images show the damage from the storm very well and shows how powerful the storm was the be able to tear the tree out of the ground like that.
Other Buildings
I took these images of the buildings near the Post Office in St Clement. I focussed on taking pictures in St Clement, because that is where the storm hit Jersey the hardest. In these images you can see the damage done by the storm on other buildings and walls. Most damage to many buildings has been fixed by now, but this damage was minor, so not a priority.
Edits
I edited all these images, by increasing the contrast, shadows, whites, vibrancy and saturation, while decreasing the highlights and blacks, so that the image would be more clear and vibrant.
This is how the final edited photos came out, and you can see where the storm sad damaged the walls and equipment near it. This also shows how strong the storm must of been, to be able to knock down a brick wall.
Final Best Images
I have chose these images as my final best images, because I think they have the best editing skills done to them , while also having the best composure. They also all present the storm damage well and present how strong and powerful the storm was.
Virtual Gallery
I made this virtual gallery of my storm damage images using ArtSteps. Firstly, I picked out a suitable gallery that I liked. Then, I imported my chosen images into ArtStepsand put them in the gallery. Next, I positioned them all where I thought they looked good and gave them all different frames. Finally, I previewed my gallery and took photos of all my images.
PhotoShop
I made this image using photoshop. Firstly, I imported my two chosen images onto and a4 print and resized them both so they filled up the print. Next, I adjusted the opacity of the image on top, so that all the trees from the image underneath would come through. I did this, so it looked light there was much more damage and trees fallen in this image. The only thing ruining this image is the sign post.
The two images before:
What is the meaning to new Topographics?
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.
What was the New Topographics in relation to?
The stark, beautifully printed images of the mundane but oddly fascinating topography was both a reflection of the increasingly suburbanised world around them, and a reaction to the tyranny of idealised landscape photography that elevated the natural and the elemental.
What was it inspired by?
Many of the photographers associated with new Topographics including Robert Adams, Lewis Baltz, Nicholas Nixon and Bernd and Hiller Becher, were inspired by the man-made, selecting subject matter that was matter-of-fact. Parking lots, suburban housing and warehouses were all depicted with a beautiful stark austerity, almost in the way early photographers documented the natural landscape.
How have photographers responded to mans impact on land?
Photography has also been instrumental in shaping public opinion, as it can evoke emotions and influence how people see and understand the world. Photographs can sway public opinion and impact the course of events, whether through photojournalism, advertising, or propaganda. Landscape photographers often capture the effects of human activity on the environment. These images serve as a powerful reminder of the consequences of irresponsible actions, such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change.
how have photographers found a sense of beauty in the ugliness of functional land use?
Landscape photography is an immersive journey that allows us to connect with the awe-inspiring beauty of our planet. Through composition, perspective, and the mastery of light, we can capture and unveil Earth’s wonders. Some landscape photographers highly value what they show in their photos as “real”; that there is correlation between what they saw with their own eyes at the moment they got the photo and the final print. It, of course, comes with some problems. Defining what “real” is, is actually rather hard.
What is the new topographics?
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.
The New Topographics documented built and natural landscapes in America, often capturing the tension between natural scenery and the mundane structures of post-war America: parking lots, suburban homes, crumbling coal mines. The photographs, stark and documentary, are often devoid of human presence.
Jenkins described the images as “neutral” in style, “reduced to an essentially topographic state, conveying substantial amounts of visual information but eschewing entirely the aspects of beauty, emotion, and opinion”.
Topographics in general is a technique in which a scene, usually a landscape, is photographed as if it were being surveyed from afar.
On the one hand, New Topographics represented a radical shift by redefining the subject of landscape photography as the built environment. To comprehend the significance of this, it helps to consider the type of imagery that previously dominated the genre in the United States.
Beginning in the 1920s, Ansel Adams cultivated an approach to landscape photography that posited nature as separate from human presence. Consistent with earlier American landscape painting, Adams photographed scenery in a manner intended to provoke feelings of awe and pleasure in the viewer. He used vantage points that emphasized the towering scale of mountain peaks, and embraced a wide tonal range from black to white to record texture and dramatic effects of light and weather.
Ansel Adams, “The Tetons—Snake River,” Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 1942
Adams wanted his pictures’ viewers to feel as uplifted as he had when looking at the scenery in person. His heroic, timeless photographs contributed to the cause of conservationism – the environmental approach that seeks to preserve exceptional landscapes and protect them from human intervention.
Despite The New Topographics being an interesting new genre for many photographers to experiment with, it was actually a controversial technique in which many photographers do not like the look of it. This may be because the photos include more of the man-made world rather than the natural world, which many can argue is more “boring”.
“I don’t like them—they’re dull and flat. There’s no people, no involvement, nothing.”
However, many photographers do enjoy photographing the man-made world as it is an opportunity for the audiences to realize how much humans rely on it. The world we live in today would not be remotely similar if we did not have all of the up-to-date buildings and technology, which is useful to everyone, every day.
“At first it’s stark nothing, but then you look at it, and it’s just about the way things are.”
“I don’t like to think there are ugly streets in America, but when it’s shown to you—without beautification—maybe it tells you how much more we need here.”
The stark, beautifully printed images of the mundane but oddly fascinating topography was both a reflection of the increasingly suburbanised world around them, and a reaction to the tyranny of idealised landscape photography that elevated the natural and the elemental.
Post-war America struggled with:
Robert Adams, The New West
The artist Ed Ruscha is famous for his paintings and prints but is also known for his series of photographic books based on typologies, among them every building on the Sunset Strip, 26 gasoline stations, some Los Angeles apartments, and 34 parking lots. Ruscha employs the deadpan style found in many photographic topologies.
Parking lots, suburban housing and warehouses were all depicted with a beautiful stark austerity, almost in the way early photographers documented the natural landscape. An exhibition at the International Museum of Photography in Rochester, New York featuring these photographers also revealed the growing unease about how the natural landscape was being eroded by industrial development.
