William Henry Fox Talbots Oak Tree in Winter could be construed as just another early attempt at photography during

its inception in the early to mid 19th century, however on close inspection we can decipher so much meaning portrayed through the image. This silhouette style scene, perfectly framed in medium format so as to emphasize the enormous central oak tree, can be broken down into incredibly precise elemental pieces, each carefully cultivated to ignite the viewers interest into the context and representations of the scene. Talbots usual approach to photography emphasized nature, possibly due to the heightening interest in botany at the time, as can be clear in this image. However while much of his work dealt with close up images of items from nature, this particular image stands out as a landscape. Talbot set down his tripod relatively far from the tree, slightly looking up, so as to encompass the entire tree thus emphasizing its size and scale. He has focused solely on the mighty oak, leaving the rest of the scene unsharp, whilst composing the frame so that the trees in the background of the scene stand so that the tops just touch the bottom of the oak tree. These elements aid in accentuating the oaks hight and stature, as though this one particular tree is best of all. This important point has been emphasized further as Talbot made sure there is nothing imposing on the foreground of the image, creating an unobtrusive view of the intimidating oak tree, whilst making careful use of selective framing, there could be any number of trees beyond the frame of the image which the viewer cannot see, it asks the question of why this particular tree? The time in which the photograph has been taken also carries a weighty bearing on the symbolism the image conveys. As the oak was photographed in winter it displays no leaves upon itself, showing the bare branches of the tree. This draws up two opposing meanings; elements of death through a skeletal visual, and those of life. Though the tree is obviously still alive and thus conveys a sense of living, it appears, in my opinion, that the sense of life gained is from a more visual aspect of the image. The branches, now visible without the canopy of leaves, ow like veins on an X-ray of lungs, as though a symbol of blood owing through a living creature. Talbots choice of tree has great impact upon its message. The mighty oak tree is a vat of positive symbolism; strength, longevity, truth, a construction built on resounding foundations, power, nobility and knowledge. The latter of these being the most important, as it is with this that Talbot signies his belief. This reasoning may simply be the product of

forethought, with my knowledge of what photography has become. However it may be said that Talbot recognized the importance of his discoveries, the impact his incredible innovations in this eld would take. It appears to me that he chose the oak tree as a true symbol of his revelations in photography. Large streams from little fountains ow, tall oaks from little acorns grow D . Everett, The Columbian Orator 1797 Talbot was on the verge of a breakthrough, by nally xing the image onto the paper he could now preserve the scene forever. Just as a huge structure can be created by one small kernel, one photograph that nally completes the photographic process can spawn a huge new art form. Knowledge resides in the symbol of the oak tree just as Talbot wanted to express his new found knowledge.

Bibliography Bate, D. (2009) Photography: The Key Concepts, Oxford: Berg. Clarke, G. (1997) The Photograph, Oxford: Oxford University Press Inc. Bull, S. (2010) Photography, USA and Canada: Routledge. Barthes, R. (1980) Camera Lucida, France: Editions du Seuil.