Perspectives on Place

Description

Perspectives on Place
Theory and Practice in Landscape Photography
By J.A.P. Alexander

ISBN 9781472533890
Published November 30, 2020 by Routledge
192 Pages

Perspectives on Place provides an inspiring insight into the territory of landscape photography. Using a range of historic and contemporary examples, Alexander explores the rich and diverse history of landscape photography and the many ways in which contemporary photographers engage with the landscape and their surroundings.Bridging theory and practice, this book demonstrates how mastering a variety of different photographic techniques can help you communicate ideas, explore themes, and develop more abstract concepts. With practical guidance on everything from effective composition, to managing challenging lighting conditions and working with different lenses and formats, you’ll be able to build your own varied and creative portfolio.Each chapter concludes with discussion questions and an assignment, encouraging you to explore key concepts and apply different photographic techniques to your own practice. Richly illustrated with images from some of the world’s most influential photographers, Perspectives on Place will help you to explore the visual qualities of your images and represent your surroundings more meaningfully.

Table of Contents

Introduction Where is the Landscape?
Distinction as a Genre Why Explore Landscape Art?
Health/Safety/Law/Ethics Advice on Giving and Receiving Feedback
Chapter 1: TAMING THE VIEW
Geography, Metaphor, Autobiography
Frames and Formats
Lenses for Landscapes
Tripod or Handheld?
The Zone System
Managing Dynamic Range
Compositional Conventions
Landscape Narratives
Assignment 1
Chapter 2: DEFINING NATURE
What is ‘Beauty’?
The Pastoral and the Picturesque
The Qualities of Light
The Sublime
Where is the Wilderness?
Voyages in the Landscape
Assignment 2
Chapter 3: SYNTHETIC VISIONS
Depth-of-field and Focal Planes
The ‘Temperature’ of Light
Analogue and Digital Filters
Infrared Light
Lighting the Land
Interpreting Technologies
Pictorialism vs. ‘Straight’ Photography
Assignment 3
Chapter 4: LANDSCAPE, POLITICS and POWER
Landscapes of Industry
New Topographics
Environmental Politics
Gender and the Landscape
Personal and National Identities
Assignment 4
Chapter 5: The PRESENCE of ABSENCE
Landscape and Memory
Landscapes of Conflict
The Aftermath
Liminal Spaces
From Spaces to ‘Places’
Assignment 5
Glossary; Bibliography; Webography; Index