Wales:Theme 2 Natural Beauty

Visit to Wales:

Plan to take landscape image for Theme 2 with the influence of Joe Cornish and Charlie Waite influence.  Look for uneven edges, shapes and texture.

Equipment required for shoot

Camera Canon EOS 500d

Light reflector

Tripod

Lens - 70-300 telephoto zoom

Lens - 18-55 zoom

Wales: Theme 1

Visit to Wales:

Plan to take portrait image for Theme 1 with the influence of Mario Testino style.  Look for jagged edges and texture.

Equipment required for shoot

Camera Canon EOS 500d

Light reflector

Tripod

Lens - 70-300 telephoto zoom

Lens - 18-55 zoom

There was no particularly dangerous equipment involved in taking the images, however I needed to be aware of the times that the tides came in and out because of the rocks only being available for use when the tide is out.  Also there may be area of quick sand.

Joe Cornish - Theme 2, Natural Beauty

Joe Cornish is a current landscape photographer. He was born in 1958 and originally studied art at Reading university where found out he was drawn to photography. I found Joe's work interesting as his early work was of his travels around the globe which featured landscape photography. This was accepted to be featured into Charlie Waites gallery a photographer I have also researched and found to be inspiring. I found Joes work inspiring as his work is about the wild untouched part of nature and the simpleness of the countryside that's beauty often is forgotten. 

This particular image inspired me to recreate the image shown below.  The day chosen was not misty unfortunately when I reached the focal point.  The image main focal point in the image is the tree.  Although the image above is shot from a higher focal point.  I chose to have the tree peeping over the top of the hill to make a bigger impact and shoot from below.  The image is about texture and form with the trees outline standing out clearly with the mist in the back ground.  The tree draws you into the image and makes you look beyond into the background.  In my image the tree draws you to the image and then your eye follows the line and shape of the hill.

I was instantly attracted to the image below as I love waterfalls.  The image would have been shot using a slow shutter speed and a tripod to make the water look magical and flowing.  I am a little torn between the main focal point being the bush or the waterfall.  For me the way the image is composed are my eyes are drawn to the waterfall at top and then move down the image.  There is something to look at in each third of the image so is balanced nicely.  The image shows texture.  It is shot from a low perspective shot.  In my image I also shot from a low perspective point.  As the water was not quite as fast flowing as the waterfall captured by Joe Cornish I decided to compose the image with the outline shape of the hill in the background to create further interest.  In my image your eye line flows in the opposite way and goes from the water at the bottom to the shape and form off the hills meeting in the background.  Again my image is about texture and movement.  Note to ones self to find a proper waterfall for better impact.

The image below also inspired me to create the image above.  My image lacks the richness of colour that has been created in the image below by the trees.  It shows texture and form.  It feels a little enchanting.

The landscape image below first although appears very simple when you look closer has alot going on.  There is alot of texture and pattern in the image and good use of light from the clouds.  I think it must have been a little windy as the long grass has been captured being blown to the left.  High perspective shot which gives you the feeling of being free.  Nice use of gentle colour which highlights the different textures in the image.

This image inspired to me take images showing texture but from a low viewpoint rather than being ariel.

Ansell Adams - Feb. 20 1902 — Apr. 22, 1984

Ansell Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist.  He originally a talented musician had the confidence to drop music and follow photography happened after he spent many summers in the Sierra Navada.  1927 was the pivotal year in Ansells career when he created his first fully visualised photograph 'The Moon and half dome' he was also influenced by Bender a patron of arts and artists around this time.  Ansell like the other photographers I have  researched captured 'the wilderness' which is why I can liken my theme Natural Beauty to their work.

Quote

'I hope that my work will encourage self expression in others and stimulate the search for beauty and creative excitement in the great world around us'

The image below shows line texture, perspective and movement.  The sky is dramatic and the light has been cleverly captured to highlight the mountain tops contrasting with the dark and gloomy landscape below.  The image has alot of different texture with the mountain peaks and treetops. The swooping of snake river creates a softness and movement to the image. The theme that I like throughout my research is the jagged edge of the landscape against the sky.  I will try to recreate that in my landscape photography.  The composition has been set up so the river leads your eye into the image.

Again this image is similar to the one above but with the added warmth of colour.  I like the one below as there is more interesting objects in the foreground.  The image at first feels cold then as the light hits the horizon the image feels warm.

The image of the leaf below interested me as it was in black and white.  The tonal range is good as all of the detail of the leaf is still clearly shown with no detail lost.  The use of light in this image has kept the detail.  The main focal point of the image is the large leaf.  The image viewpoint has been taken from an Ariel point above the subject.

I would like to use the points picked up from  researching Ansell Adams photography in my photography with good use of perspective movement.  I would like to use the jagged edges of the mountains against the horizon  in my images.

Charlie Waite 'Travelling Light' Trailer

A video with Charlie Waite discussing the importance of composing your image.

After researching the photographer Joe Cornish I also started to research the link of Charlie Waite.  Joe himself was inspired by Charlie Waites work.  Charlie Waite is one of the worlds leading English landscape photographers born in 1949. He is particulary renowened for his use of light and shade.  “Waite’s landscapes are rare perfections of light, colour and composition, and offer the viewer a luxuriant portrait of a planet at peace”.

I like the way Charlie uses shapes and lines in some of his work. The image below shows movement because of the way the lines if the fence move.   The image also shows texture and has a feel of drama about it because of the sky.  The main focal point is the fence but because if the way it has been composed your eye is lead from the top of the image down and through to the bottom left hand corner.  It is a simple composure but effective because it has been shot from such a low viewpoint it emphasises the height of the hilltop and fence and gives further movement.  The way that the light has been used in the image emphases the texture of the long grass.  This image inspired me to capture the one shown below. 

I like the image but would have preferred it if there were better cloud formations to make the image more interesting.  Although shot from a low viewpoint I dont feel it has the feel of movement in same way Charlie Waites image has as the fences and hill are not as high.

The image bellow attracted me as I like the colour tones it has warmth and is rich.  Again this image has texture.  It is more about lines and shapes as the two hilltops meet.  The darkness of the hillside contrasts against the clouds.  Again this image has been shot from a high viewpoint.

I particularly liked this one because of the curve of the road and the fence.  Again the colour is good and the image has a warm feeling to it,  The image has texture - the wall contrast against the smoothness of the road.   The image is composition is well balanced and has something different in each third of the image.  I would say the main focal point of the image is the wall.

Theme 1

Theme 2 - Natural Beauty - Derwent Valley