Nature Research

The next photographer i'd like to research is David Noton. I chose this photographer because i'd read some of his columns in a photography magazine. I saw some of his work in his book called 'Waiting for the Light'. This book contains a selection of stunning landscape images. These images are taken at very varied locations and under very varied conditions.

The groups of trees in this image act as a frame to the mountains behind. The light touching the mountaintops runs along the top third, and the snowdrifts placed along the bottom third conform to the rule of thirds.

The composition of this image is quite unusual as it doesn't conform to the rule of thirds. The main focal point is the cropped tree trunk positioned in the centre of the image, with the ground level running diagonally across the photograph.

I chose this photograph as i really liked the pattern created by the lines of trees. The mist has exaggerated the pattern as it has hidden the detail from the fields between the trees, leaving just the line of treetops showing.

This is a striking photograph as it is cut in half by the line of trees. This again is unusual as it isn't placed on a third. This image makes great use of reflections. The sunlight really highlights the shape of the landscape as it just catches the hillside to hint at the size. The bright shaft of light across the picture is also reflected in the lake splitting the image into triangles.

The composition of this is quite odd. The road leads the eye into the shot, but the tree is off to the other side of the image. I still like it even if it doesn't follow all the rules.

This photograph really stands out because of how eye catching the light is. The time of day this was taken meant that the sun had a warm tone which reflects all across the water.

This landscape is much more vast than the sort i'd be attempting but is fairly typical of the work of professionals.

This image provides a really good example of trees forming a lead in line to draw the viewer into the picture and emphasize the perspective.

The mix of colours in this image makes it very vibrant. Again he has used the sun to just catch the tops of the plants to add interest to the foreground.

I really like this image as the panoramic format makes the viewer feel like they are surrounded by the poppies. The reds stand out against the greens, with the line of trees forming the backdrop.

Aspects i aim to include in my work are the use of sunlight to highlight interesting parts of the scene and use of vibrant (but realistic) colours.

Nature Research

The next nature photographer i would like to research is John Potter. I found him in an internet search.
I chose these images as they are colourful and use some different techniques to the previous photographers.

This first photo caught my attention with its very central composition. The chosen tree really lends itself to this position in the image though as it is quite symmetrical.

This example shows the use of shadows as lead in lines, which also adds to the perspective as the lines will meet at the edge of the field. The composition of this image is quite unconventional as the horizon is placed pretty much in the centre. Generally it would be positioned on the top or bottom third. I think that it works in this particular image though, as both the sky and foreground are interesting enough to be included.

An interesting use of a lead in line here, as the felled tree appears to be pointing into the frame.

This is a nice example of the use of reflections in nature photography. The location has been well chosen to create a simple outline without clutter. The time of day was also of importance as the light has allowed the bank to appear dark and the water much lighter. It is possible that due to the muted light and graphic composition that this could work as a black and white image.

Here is another example of the use of tree silhouettes as a frame to surround a different subject.

I chose this image as it is only a piece of a tree, so it was something a bit different to the usual trunk and branches shot.

This image would possibly qualify as abstract! The strange lack of focus really highlights the colours of the woodland, the shapes of the tree trunks and the textures of the flowers in the foreground.

It might be possible to try some unconventional compositions in my work and also think about reflections and unusual lead in lines.

Nature Research

Continuing with the tree related research i found Jeremy Walker. I first saw some of his work in a magazine called 'Practical Photography'. I chose these images as they are in a different format (panoramic) to the other photographers i have included so far.

This first image caught my eye as it is very striking. Firstly it shows a vast wilderness where the tree is somehow surviving! Secondly the colours are quite amazing. The colour of the sky against the snowy ground really adds to the atmosphere. Also the composition is unusual. The main focal point of the tree is placed in the centre of the image, rather than on one of the thirds. The distant mountain range is highest at the edges of the frame leading to a central valley behind the tree. This leads the eye directly to the black branches. The shape of the tree is such that it is recognisable despite it having no leaves, but at the same time looks almost alien in the barren landscape.

I picked this photograph as it illustrates that tree images don't have to include a tree standing upright to show it in a natural environment! This picture also includes various textures such as the silky water effect and the moss covered rocks against the bark.

This is another example of use of texture, as even at this small size you can clearly see the roughness of the bark.

This photograph is a nice example of how trees can be used to frame another point of interest.

This image shows how colour can be used to really bring out a simple composition.

I find this image quite intriguing as i didn't expect to see a group of trees on a beach!

This photograph highlights how important it is to visit a location at a certain time of year and day as this would have been a very different shot under different conditions.

The perspective created by the trees lining the river is interesting. The lines lead the eye into the bridge which is positioned on the bottom third off centre. The angle of view is quite low and really makes the viewer feel like they are floating down stream.

He makes amazing use of silhouettes in much of his work. This allows the image to be quite simple and graphic in appearance, and concentrate on the warmth of the light surrounding the blackness of the tree.

I like the perspective of this one. I like how the main tree is the largest in the frame with the others appearing from the mist behind it like an army.

I wouldn't be able to achieve such a wide angle of viewing with my compact but use of light and composition are more important.

Nature Research

The next photographer i found was Andrew Lawson. He is generally known for garden photography. I found his name in a book called 'The Garden at Highgrove'. I chose to look at his work as it was something a bit different to the usual natural landscape, offering instead a view of more cultivated foliage as part of a garden environment.

The composition of this first image is quite graphic with all the harsh lines and exact shapes. The garden is laid out in very precise blocks. The shape and position of the tree reflects the rest of the garden. It looks nothing like the large wild misshapen specimens of other nature photography. Instead it is highly manufactured and cultivated to a specific height and shape. It also shows use of the rule of thirds as the tree is positioned on the first third across, and an interesting combination of pattern and texture with the inclusion of various materials (wood, glass, concrete, foliage).

This picture illustrates the use of a lead in line and trees used to frame the path.

Use of colour perhaps isn't that strong compared to other photographers. I wouldn't describe these images as vibrant, but the use of light to create atmosphere seems more important.

I chose these images to show how trees can be used as an effective background to nature shots, not just as the main focal point.

The water in this image is used as a lead in line to draw the viewer in. This photo also shows a deep depth of field to include the background scene.

The perspective of this image seems quite unusual. I think this is due to the shape and position of the pond and benches.

This image is nothing like the others! It is a total contrast as it is of a wild unkempt tree in a harsh landscape, as well as being in black and white.

Aspects i would like to try and include in my own work are the use of attractive light and maybe some graphic shapes.

Nature Research

I've decided to research tree photography. I found Tony Howell through an internet search. I chose these images as they showed a variety of ways of shooting trees. 

For example, the different viewpoints shown in the first two photos create interesting perspective. The images where the eye is drawn up the body of the tree skywards give strong lead in lines. 

It could be suggested that the many straight lines in the second image all act as individual frames for the background.

There are a couple of examples of the rule of thirds such as the last image where the trees are all lined up along the bottom third or this image where the lone tree is standing one third into the shot.

Another example of lead in lines is here, where the silhouettes of the trees themselves form a line into the picture.

The trees chosen exhibit varying shapes, for example the green image of the tree with the branches making up the whole shot.

Other photos show how different trees can appear under varying conditions. Throughout this post are shots taken at different times of day and also year. The snow covering one of the trees really brings out the texture of the foliage and highlights the different tones in the image.

There are also examples of silhouetted trees against colourful skies, or colourful foliage against blue skies.

Depth of field is deep on all the shots so as to include the background in focus.

I chose some of the photos to illustrate various compositions, such as a group of trees on a hill in the distance, or images such as this one which show them in their surrounding environment.

Photos like this one illustrate how important choice of sky can be in tree images. The colour contrast of the blue and the green is really effective here.

Aspects i would most like to include in my own work are the use of lead in lines, interesting perspectives and eye catching colours or silhouettes.

Item and Location Task

The idea was to take 5 photographs of 5 different objects in 5 different locations. Each picture had to include a person in some way. I did miss the lesson where this was explained so i hope i have done something relevent.

I found the task quite difficult for several reasons. Firstly i don't usually have people in my photographs, so i struggled straight away with how to include one. Also as i was using a compact for this exercise i didn't have the same options as a DSLR. The main example of this being control over depth of field. My camera has an aperture range of F3.3-6.3 and i don't know if i am doing something wrong but i can't see any change to depth of field using it. The only way i managed to include some minor control over that in my images was to switch to macro (as in the shot of the mini) and get very close to the object, causing the background to be very slightly blurred. Another point was how it coped without using flash. It seemed like anywhere indoors was too dark.

I had never used my camera on full manual before. This meant that i had too much to think about at once! The result of that was that amongst other things i forgot about the square format rule part way through...My other admission is that although it was on manual i didn't figure out the ISO. I did have a go at changing it but it just resulted in horrible noise so i let the camera pick after that. This may be due to the small compact sensor.

I did want to include something with movement to focus on shutter speed, which i got to experiment with in the yoyo shot. I did aim to get closer to the yoyo but i was a bit worried about a collision and zooming in just made it impossibly fast moving! Maybe a tripod would have helped here. 

For this image i wanted the cup to fill most of the frame and keep a nice clean background. It turned out a bit dark as it was inside.

This image might cope as a square crop if it had more space at the top.

I can't imagine either of these last two working in square format at all. This image was mainly to use a different viewpoint.

If i had been using a DSLR i would have made the background much more blurred by using a wider aperture.