Places 'Urban and Rural Location' Brief Evaluation

Unit 6 - Places

Initially at the beginning of the brief I did intend to follow a river, mainly the River Ribble and capture all of the below areas of landscape study, taking photographs at different locations until I came to its source. As things often don’t go as planned I therefore decided on three main locations: Haworth, Blackpool and Baxenden.

Alien or Foreign Environment

I relate to the ‘alien’ or ‘foreign’ environment in a way in which you are to set out on a journey to unknown territory. My reasoning for choosing to go and explore Haworth in Yorkshire was due to a friends’ passing comment that it is a beautiful little old village that’s main attraction for visitors is its still running steam trains.

It was with this in mind that I wanted to capture images which would portray that statement “a beautiful little old village . . . with still running steam trains”

Photograph 1 – Ticket’s Please

Before allowance onto the train platform in Haworth you are required to purchase a ‘platform ticket’ if you are not travelling on the steam train. This area caught my eye due to its ‘old world’ look and I carefully composed my photograph to capture the essence of ‘how things used to be’. There wasn’t much lighting within this area therefore the main source was natural lighting from the sun shining through the gate way which I felt added the necessary drama needed for my shot. I feel that the man in the office adds to the overall photograph giving a reality that this is a true working old school train station, it may have added a even greater impact if he was looking through the glass maybe?

Photograph 2 – A Beautiful start to a Journey

Whilst walking across the bridge above the train tracks I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful and tranquil the view was. A mysterious surreal feel is present within the photograph due to the delicate areas of colours from the trees, train carts and their covers. The train track leads the viewers’ eye to follow it under the bridge taking you to a journey of the unknown. I feel that this photograph depicts expressively the very essence and heart of what Haworth has to offer any visitor. I used a wide angle to portray the foreground as what we can see and focussed to the end of the train carts allowing beyond that part of the photograph to be a little out of focus to add the air of mystery of what lies past the bridge.

The City or Urban Sprawl

Within this area of landscape photography it was my intention to capture a sense of how our population has grown and how the urban environment is becoming bigger due to the need of housing for all of us to live in. I did initially take some photographs on our trip to Manchester and Salford Keys however I did not feel that they were strong enough to be added as part of my final two images for this area. Also I felt that they wouldn’t have complimented the rest of my overall set of images for the complete brief as I decided to have consistency throughout my portfolio where all my photographs can be linked to one another.

Photograph 3 – Overlooking the Still Station

I decided to add this photograph to convey a message of the built up urban areas around the central position and main feature of Haworth, the train station. Thinking about history if it wasn’t for the invention of transportation which main source was originally the steam train, places such as towns and cities could not have expanded or grown. Originally the image was an average landscape size however I decided to crop the upper part of the photograph to give a panoramic view and to also cut out unnecessary sky which would have taken the audiences eye away from the main area of subject, that being of the urban sprawl out from the central station up above on the hills and beyond. It also added better compositional value to the photograph, giving triangular formats with symmetrical lines and textures from the buildings.

Photograph 4 – Birds Eye Blackpool

I felt an excellent representation of the urban sprawl would be to photograph a place from an aerial viewpoint and I captured an aerial view of Blackpool from high above whilst on the Big Wheel. Not really having much time to think about camera settings and composition I just took one meter reading from my DSLR and clicked away whilst going around on the ride. I feel that my photograph displays the idea of the urban sprawl very well, interlinking the fact that elements of the coast and surrounding countryside are evident in the image, but obviously not being the main feature just a small attribute to show development from the coast, to the urban jungle to the outskirts of the countryside. I feel that the photograph could have been improved if it covered the complete sea front of Blackpool and surrounding urban area however limited to the big wheel I am happy with the outcome.

The Wilderness / Countryside or Coast

On my journey to Haworth I took the advantage of taking some countryside photographs however at the same time as I was visiting Blackpool purely for the main reasoning behind my familiar place, I also took some great costal photographs too. Both of which would have been sufficient to be added to the final 8 and belong as a set of images however after looking over my final prints I felt that the costal photographs complemented each other as the better pair.

Within my costal photographs I wanted to convey a message of what is most familiar about the meeting of the sea to the sand and also incorporate key features that would also give clues as to which coast the pictures had been taken from. Being in Blackpool I knew that its main trademark, Blackpool tower, would have to be evident in at least one of my chosen photographs.

Photograph 5 – South, Central or North Pier?

A main feature to any coast touched by man is a pier and as many of us is aware who have been to Blackpool; at this particular coast there are three. I captured the pier whilst the sun was hiding behind the clouds so it would stand out with a silhouette effect and also bearing in mind that the water below would capture a delicate reflection. I also ensured that the sea and sand are evident as the coast in the photograph and to also determine exactly what the main structure of the photograph was.

Photograph 6 – What the coast shall bring?

Not my original choice however I still feel that my photograph depicts the coastal element of Blackpool tremendously. I decided to capture the meeting of the sea with the sand and also ensure that the main feature of Blackpool was evident in the background by using a large depth of field. I focussed mainly on the foreground area to show detail into the rocks and shells that have been washed up from the shore.

This was my original choice however when printed it did not give as dramatic effect I was wanted it to do. The colour of the beach came out a much brighter orange than I anticipated. I plan to have a go at my own printing of this photograph in the near future and hopefully achieve a watercolour effect photograph with similar clarity to the image viewed on the screen

Significant Place

I feel that a significant place should detail someone’s personal approach to their memories which evokes on the idea of special times throughout their life. As such I decided to go to Blackpool to capture how I viewed this as a special place as a child, to illiterate through images a special place of fun.

Photograph 7 – The Magical Merry Go Round

I wanted to approach this with a different viewpoint and capturing my daughter riding on the merry go round looking out at the glorious view of Blackpool coast I feel that I have captured my goal perfectly. My daughter representing youthfulness, the merry go round representing fun and the view beyond the ride capturing the complete significant place, were the memories began from many years ago.

I focussed up close to the inside of the merry go round and carefully waited for the perfect ‘decisive moment’ which gives a sense that the viewer is also on the ride within the photograph.

Another significant place to me in my childhood was playing in the local woods close to where I grew up in Baxenden.

Photograph 8 – The Enchanted Wood

I wanted to capture the feeling that the audience of the photograph would feel a part of the woods therefore I decided to hide within the trees and capture the leaves within the foreground of the photograph. Just like I would have done as a child playing a kids favourite game of hide and seek. I also noticed that the branch of leaves within my frame portrayed a great element to the overall photograph, shaped in way of an arrow pointing towards the central pathway along the wood.

I feel that ‘woods’ symbolize a great many memories to youth, it is where the majority of all of us have been as children, where we have been left to allow our imaginations to run wild. I am hoping that the audience will share this idealistic value and recollection when viewing my photograph as the woods being a many persons’ special significant place.