A photographic typology involves examining different “types” through a series of images. Instead of focusing on individual photos, it emphasizes the idea of “collecting” images together. This approach to photography is impactful and can change how we view the world around us.
Examples
Artist analysis
Bernd and Hilla Becher
Who are they ?
Bernhard “Bernd” Becher (August 20, 1931 – June 22, 2007) and Hilla Becher, born Wobeser (September 2, 1934 – October 10, 2015), were a pair of German conceptual artists and photographers who collaborated closely. They gained recognition for their vast collection of photographs, known as typologies, which depict industrial buildings and structures, typically arranged in grid patterns. As the pioneers of what is referred to as the ‘Becher school’ or the Düsseldorf School of Photography, they left a lasting impact on many documentary photographers and artists both in Germany and internationally. Their work earned them prestigious honours, including the Erasmus Prize and the Hasselblad Award.
Examples of their work
Photo analysis
Technical – The lighting in these photos was most likely natural, this is due to all the buildings being outside, moreover the lighting is relatively soft because of the cloudy sky in the background. The aperture for this photo was most likely a high number, something like f/32, this is because everything is in focus, the ISO was probably 100 or maybe 200 because of the lack of sun and the shutter speed was probably something lower like 1/125 as to not bleach out the sky.
Visual – This is a really well thought out photo, this is because each building is different however they are all within the same kind of design style, furthermore they are all taken from a deadpan, straight on view which keeps it repetitive but still interesting. Each building is composed in the middle of the frame. The background of each photo is the same in each photo which places an emphasis on the uniformity of the images but also the simplicity due to the lack of background noise.
Contextual/Conceptual – Bernd and Hilla Becher (German, active 1959-2007) Bernd Becher (German, 1931-2007) Hilla Becher (German, 1934-2015) Comparative Juxtaposition, Nine Objects, Each with a Different Function 1961-1972 Gelatin silver prints Estate Bernd & Hilla Becher, represented by Max Becher
Photoshoot plan
Where: I will go to town to take my photos as this is where I think the strongest photos will come from.
When: I am going to go around 3-4 pm as there is still plenty of light for me to take my photos
What: I will take photos of buildings and other architectural features, I will also like to find some run down buildings as I think this will be a bonus
My Photoshoot
Selection Process
My best photos
Basic editing
Edited photos
Typology experiments
My typology
Art steps
Evaluation
I believe I managed to create an effective typology of different architectural structures and buildings. I also managed to follow my original inspiration closely and produce a similar effect, however I took my own turn when I ditched the same camera angle in each photo.
The term New Topographics was coined by William Jenkins in 1975 to describe a group of American photographers whose pictures had a similar banal aesthetic, in that they were formal, mostly black and white prints of the urban landscape.
This Technique in which a scene—usually a landscape—is photographed as if it were being surveyed from afar, practiced most famously by the 1970s ‘New Topographics’ photographers, including Robert Adams, Lewis Baltz, Nicholas Nixon, and Bernd and Hilla Becher.
Robert Adams
Robert Adams was born on May 8, 1937 (age 87 years), City of Orange, New Jersey.
Robert Adams is an American photographer who has focused on the changing landscape of the American West. His work first came to prominence in the mid-1970s through his book The New West and his participation in the exhibition New Topographics: Photographs of a Man-Altered Landscape in 1975.
For 50 years, Robert Adams (b. 1937) has made compelling, provocative, and highly influential photographs that show us the wonder and fragility of the American landscape, its inherent beauty, and the inadequacy of our response to it. This exhibition explores the reverential way he looks at the world around him and the almost palpable silence of his work.
Many of these photographs of the American West capture the sense of peace and harmony that the beauty of nature can instill in us—“the silence of light,” as he calls it, that he sees on the prairie, in the woods, and by the ocean. Other pictures question our silent complicity in the desecration of that beauty by consumerism, industrialization, and lack of environmental stewardship. Divided into three sections—The Gift, Our Response, and Tenancy—the exhibition features some 175 works from the artist’s most important projects and includes pictures of suburban sprawl, strip malls, highways, homes, and stores, as well as rivers, skies, the prairie, and the ocean.
While these photographs lament the ravages that have been inflicted on the land, they also pay homage to what remains.
Lewis Baltz
Lewis Baltz was born on September 12, 1945, Newport Beach, California, United States. He died on November 22, 2014 (age 69 years), Paris, France
Lewis “Duke” Baltz was an American visual artist, photographer, and educator. He was an important figure in the New Topographics movement of the late 1970s. His best known work was monochrome photography of suburban landscapes and industrial parks which highlighted his commentary of void within the “American Dream”.
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.
Stephen Shore
Stephen Shore, Beverly Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, California, June 21, 1975, chromogenic colour print
Foreground vs background | Dominant features
Composition | low horizon line | Square format
Perspective and detail / cluttering
Wide depth of field | Large Format Camera
Colour | impact and relevance
Nationalism vs mobility vs isolation
Social commentary | The American Dream ?
An appreciation of the formal elements : line, shape, form, texture, pattern, tone etc
Technical
Slow Shutter Speed, car on the left is slightly Blurry
Natural light is being used, Cold Clinical feel, distinct Hard-Edged shadows
Visual
Hard Distinct Edges within the environment, Text, Shapes, Horizon
Some alignment to the Rule of Thirds
Horizon is quite low, Composition feels cluttered or closed
Contextual
2 Sides of Life, Urbanization and Industrialization
Cars connected all places together
No one cared about the Impact that the Petrol stations and Cars would have on the environment
Celebration of Transport/freedom but Damaging
Red, White, Blue colours being used connected to the American Flag in California – Nationalism
Logical image but Cold and stericle, makes sense in the Head but truthfully hurts to look at in the Heart
Conceptual
Car creates a sense of Freedom from escaping the Cluttered space and sent off into the Horizon
A panoramic photo captures a wide, sweeping view that extends far beyond the typical aspect ratio or field of view in a standard photograph.
To achieve a Panoramic Photograph you need to overlap your photos by about half, so each photo has about half of the scene the last photo had in it. As long as there is a decent overlap, the computer will stitch them together successfully. Shoot a bit wider than you think you will need. It is better to crop in afterward on your panorama, than to not have enough.
Joiner Photos
Joiner photography is a photographic technique wherein multiple pictures are assembled into one. There are two types of joiner photography, photographic collages and Polaroid collages.
Photographic Collages
A photographic collage is an artwork made by assembling different photographs together.
Polaroid Collages
A Polaroid collage is a photographic collage made using Polaroid photographs.
Deadline: Photos must be taken by 22nd April (When you come back after Easter)
(MUST) New Topographics photoshoot – Respond to your chosen New Topographics Photographer and produce a range of images that show your understanding and sense of connection –
(SHOULD) Respond to the concept of TYPOLOGIES and photograph a series of landscape / architectural features eg GERMAN BUNKERS in a methodical way…
(COULD) Either – a closer look at architecture…. OR Complete a night-time photoshoot.
See below for ideas on all photoshoots….
1. New Topographics photoshoot (MUST)
Take a series of photos in response to New Topographics. Your photos should consider:
Man-altered landscapes
Deserted spaces
Harsh lighting
Minimalistic and formalistic aesthetic
Straightforward compositions
Stark geometries and lines
2. Typologies Photoshoot (SHOULD)
Respond to the concept of TYPOLOGIES and photograph a series of landscape / architectural features eg GERMAN BUNKERS in a methodical way…
A series of / multiple repetitive photos
All depicting a particular ‘TYPE’ of landscape / architecture. E.g: A series of photos of bunkers, or a series of photos of homes etc…
All taken using the same angle /composition / framing
All edited in the same way
3. A closer look at architecture or night-time photography (COULD)
A closer look at architecture:
Consider close up details, different perspectives / angles. This could be modern structures with clean lines and shapes or more rural and rustic buildings
OR… Night Time Photography…
OR night-time photography
Complete a night-time photoshoot…try using long exposures and a tripod / stable surface to capture low light features eg light trails…
Constructing a landscape photograph might be different to simply taking one. To construct an image might reveal how and why it has been made. You might construct a photographic image in order to question what a landscape is. What appears natural in the landscape is often the result of careful management. We use nature to construct ideas and stories that reflect our human desires. Constructed landscape photographic images, therefore, reflect the construction of nature itself.
Here are a selection of images by a wide range of artists/photographers. They are all linked by their approach to the construction of landscapes. The artists use photographic techniques to question some of the conventions of landscape photography.
Many of them work with more than one photograph (using layering or collage to build their images). Some use unusual techniques and processes to represent their way of seeing landscapes or their understanding of the forces, like wind and light, at work in nature. Some of the artists use images to question the impact humans have had on the natural world. Some are fascinated by the ways in which we depict and consume nature, whereas others use photography to document a performance or gesture in the landscape. Some of them use analogue techniques, others prefer digital technologies, some even use a combination of both.
None of these artists make straightforward or conventional landscape pictures. Click on each image / link to find out more about the work:
A tutorial on how to edit like Jelle Martens can be found here
Edits like Guy Catling
Once you’ve had a thorough browse through these images, choose 2 or 3 of the artists and try to find out as much as you can about them and their work. As well as reading and making notes you could also start making your own images (still and/or moving) inspired by their work. Making your own photographs is a kind of research.
You could try identifying some of the themes that connect the images in this gallery above. A theme is a BIG IDEA that connects two or more art works. For example, one theme could be movement. Another could be layers. What other themes can you find?
Reflect on your own relationship to nature, the natural world, various landscapes and issues connected to the climate emergency. How do you feel about the future of the planet, your access to green spaces, species extinction, pollution and all the other issues related to life on Earth?
If you live in a town or city your experience of wide open or spectacular landscapes might be quite limited. Perhaps you remember visiting such places during holidays or school trips. Maybe you have lived in another part of the world where the landscapes are very different. Maybe you’ve seen images of landscapes in films, in magazines or on the Internet that are different to the ones where you live. If you live in the countryside, your experience of landscapes might be quite different to that of town or city dwellers. You could create a collage using found images to represent what natural landscapes mean to you.
You could experiment with creating cameraless images (cyanotype, luminograms or photograms) using cut and torn paper, or other objects and materials, which suggest landscape type compositions.
Some of the artists included here don’t necessarily think of themselves as photographers. They create performances in natural settings, sometimes referring to these as sculptures or conceptual works of art. A photograph is made as a document because the work of art is not meant to last forever. They are ephemeral. You could experiment with making an ephemeral work of landscape art like this – a walk, a dance, a performance of some sort – in a landscape of your choice. This could be a garden or a nearby park. You could use objects or simply your own body. It’s important not to damage the environment but you could leave a trace of your presence. Take photographs (or get a friend to help you) of your intervention.
You might want to add a layer of text to your landscape photographs and/or videos, perhaps recording your feelings or documenting other things you saw in the landscape that couldn’t be captured in the image(s).
Some artists/photographers have created landscape images from unusual materials. How can a plastic bag become a mountainside or waves? Experiment with lighting your choice of materials and framing your shots so that the resulting images are (relatively) convincing landscape photographs.
Do you have photographs of landscapes that you could cut up and reassemble? Some artists use collage techniques to create new types of images. You could experiment with old 35mm slides, for example, cutting, re-arranging and adding other translucent materials. These could either be re-photographed against a bright background or enlarged on a wall using a slide projector.
You could experiment with creating a 3D photosculpture made from landscape images. You could even re-photograph your completed sculpture and, using Photoshop or a similar programme, digitally insert it into a real or imaginary landscape.
How could you photograph a landscape that you’ve never visited or one you can only remember? You could experiment with Google Street View, perhaps revisiting the scene of a family holiday or childhood memory. You could explore the many pictures of a particular place on Flickr, a huge photo sharing site. Some picturesque locations have been visited and photographed millions of times. You could take a look at the Insta Repeat account and try to curate your own galleries of repeated landscape photographs. How has our obsession with social media and the Internet affected our relationship to the natural world?
These are just a few suggestions. There are loads of possibilities. It’s important to experiment, to play, to test new ideas and step outside your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to try things you’ve not done before. Use your imagination and follow your intuition. How will you construct your landscapes
Wednesday 2nd April: Well done to CARA and FIN, the only 2 students who worked on their blog on Wednesday.
Thursday 3rd April: Well done to CARA, FIN, ELIYAH and JOSH who worked on the blog on Thursday.
We can see! We can see when you are working on your blog and we can also see how much time has been spent on it in total – so we know if you aren’t putting in much effort. No one else in this class has worked on the blog since Tuesday 1st April. Guys – time to step it up! Unfortunately this means you’ve shot yourselves in the foot and will have more to get finished over your Easter Holidays!
Over Easter Holidays:
Over Easter you have 2-3 photoshoots to complete as Homework (see below blog post here and ShowMyHomework).
All below blog posts should have been completed before Easter. And….
The New Topographics Overview
The New Topographics Artist Reference and Image Analysis
The New Topographics Photoshoot and Outcome (Havre Des Pas Photo Walk)
Typologies overview (more information if you scroll down the blog:
Typologies Artist Reference: Complete a case study for Bernd and Hilla Becher (Research who they are and analyse their typology photos).
After Easter: Upload your Typologies Photoshoot – edits and final images
After Easter: Upload your second New Topographics Photoshoot – edits and final photos
After Easter (optional): Upload any other photoshoots you completed as part of your Easter Homework
Alexander Mourant is an artist, educator and writer based in London. His first publication, The Night and the First Sculpture, was published by Folium, 2024. He has since been commissioned by FT Weekend Magazine, Hapax Magazine and The Greatest Magazine, and included in BJP, The Guardian, Photograph, Photoworks, METAL Magazine and Photomonitor. He won the Free Range Award and was nominated for the Foam Paul Huf Award. Mourant is a Member of Revolv Collective and Contributor at C4 Journal. He achieved BA Photography at Falmouth University, and MA Photography at Royal College of Art, London. He is a Lecturer in Photography at Kingston University.
This is one of his most famous photos from his collection ‘Aurelian’ which explores the interior space of British butterfly houses. To get the colour blue he has taken a piece of blue glass from a church window and had it specially cut to fit the lens of his camera. this meant that all the pictures he took were blue.
Alexander Mourant is an artist, educator and writer based in London. His first publication,The Night and the First Sculpture, was published by Folium, 2024.
His recent exhibitions include To Walk in the Image, Lismore Castle Arts, Ireland (2023), At the Farthest Edge: Rebuilding Photography, NŌUA, Norway (2023) andA Sudden Vanishing, Seen Fifteen Gallery, London (2023).
Mourant is a recipient of grants from Arts Council Norway, Arts Council England and ArtHouse Jersey. He won the Free Range Award and was nominated for the Foam Paul Huf Award.
He achieved BA Photography at Falmouth University, and MA Photography at Royal College of Art, London. He is a Lecturer in Photography at Kingston University.
A Famous Collection
This collection is called Aomori. This was all taken in Japan and was taken with a blue stained glass window from a church.
Aomori means blue forest in Japanese.
This image was part of The Night And The First sculpture, which was published in a book .
I’m an artist, educator, writer and Lecturer on BA (Hons) Photography at Kingston School of Art. My practice embraces autobiography, literature and reference-based thinking, to create narratives that question the relationship between the body and the photographic medium. I work with photography, writing, performance and sculpture, employing methodologies cultivated by the 1960s-70s Land Art movement, Performance and Arte Povera, to help question, or push, our understanding of the photographic.
Alexander Mourant is an artist, educator and writer based in London. His first publication, The Night and the First Sculpture, was published by Folium, 2024. Recent exhibitions include To Walk in the Image, Lismore Castle Arts, Ireland (2023), At the Farthest Edge: Rebuilding Photography, NŌUA, Norway (2023) and A Sudden Vanishing, Seen Fifteen Gallery, London (2023). Mourant is a recipient of grants from Arts Council Norway, Arts Council England and Arthouse Jersey. He has been commissioned by FT Weekend Magazine, Hapax Magazine and The Greatest Magazine, and included in BJP, The Guardian, Photograph, Photo works, METAL Magazine and Photo monitor. He won the Free Range Award and was nominated for the Foam Paul Huff Award. Mourant is a Member of Revolve Collective and Contributor at C4 Journal. He achieved BA Photography at Falmouth University, and MA Photography at Royal College of Art, London. He is a Lecturer in Photography at Kingston University.
Alexander Mourant, born in Jersey, Channel Islands, in 1994, is a London-based artist, educator, and writer renowned for his innovative exploration of photography. He earned a BA (Hons) in Photography from Falmouth University in 2017 and completed an MA in Photography at the Royal College of Art in 2020.
Mourant’s artistic practice delves into the relationship between the body and the photographic medium, intertwining autobiography, literature, and reference-based thinking. He employs methodologies inspired by the 1960s-70s Land Art movement, Performance, and Arte Povera to challenge and expand the boundaries of photography.
His work has been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions. Notable solo exhibitions include “Aomori” at The Old Truman Brewery in London (2018) and at Unseen Amsterdam (2018). Recent group exhibitions feature “To Walk in the Image” at Lismore Castle Arts, Ireland (2023), “At the Farthest Edge: Rebuilding Photography” at NŌUA, Norway (2023), and “A Sudden Vanishing” at Seen Fifteen Gallery, London (2023).
In addition to his exhibitions, Mourant published his debut monograph, “The Night and the First Sculpture,” in 2024. His work has been featured in various publications, including the British Journal of Photography, AINT-BAD, The Plantation Journal, Pylot Magazine, and TRIP Magazine
Beyond his artistic endeavors, Mourant serves as a Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Photography program at Kingston School of Art, Kingston University London. His contributions to the field have been recognized with grants from Arts Council Norway, Arts Council England, and ArtHouse Jersey.
Mourant’s work continues to push the boundaries of photographic art, inviting audiences to reconsider the medium’s potential and its intersection with personal and collective narratives.
