Commission Unit (Part 1 Environment) Doorstep Paradise Charlie Stanhope

Commission Unit (Part 1 Environment) Doorstep Paradise

Initial Ideas: Started to look at the natural landscape, and human interference. The difference between the natural landscape, and the constructed landscape. Different front gardens in different villages/towns, and the variation. Exotic trees and plants look out of place. Manicured landscape. Fake. The Perfect Landscape.

Idea Starting Point

Contextual Research

Palm Trees
Symbolism of tropical weather and exotic holidays. Paradise Many different types, minority being able to survive in British weather. Coconut Palm is the symbol of holidays, however would not survive in Britain Palms that can withstand British weather are called Hardy Palms.

The Telegraph Article

I found myself entertaining the same fantasies that I have on dismal, damp days in February - leaving my frazzled pots far behind and scoffing ice-cream under shady palm trees. Generally very easy to grow and lives for ages.

Thomson Holidays Advert

Source: www.youtube.com Upload Date: January 10, 2009

Visual Research

Richard Billingham Zoo

Animals in their unnatural

environment Contrast between natural and unnatural

Isolation
Artificial Environments constructed by humans

False Representation

Anne Lass WandIn

Isolation
Plastic and Fake Contrast between exotic tree and overcast weather

Artificial
Replicate of the perfect landscape Contrast between the

idealised and relality

No people in the frame

Aaron Schuman - Redwoods

Unnatural Environment
Dominant Tower over the landscape Out of place

Eye Catching
Contrast

Lewis Baltz The Prototype Works Approach to composition and framing Parallel lines

No diagonals
Flat Frame entirely filled No breathing space

Lack of perspective

Ed Ruscha Sunset Strip

Framing and composition

Images fit together like a puzzle Alignment of road and path

Series of images making one

long panoramic Distance and measurements are crucial

Concertina Book

Martin Parr Scotland

Vibrant colours
Blatant rather than subtle Contrast between the natural and the unnatural

Human preference
False representation Losing touch with what is real and what is not

Photographic Practice

My Approach

Clear pre-visualized image Consistency Vertical and Horizontal Lines (Foreground, Middle Ground,

Background)
Balance Perfection and attention to detail Isolated exotic plants and trees

Unnatural environment
Out of place Precise and Accurate Measurements

Choice Of Location: St Marys Island Built up of newly built homes Repetitive layout pattern Modern/Futuristic

Clean
Everything perfectly in place Replicates computer designs prior to construction.

Putting Together A Series

Cut outs
Alignment Vertical and Horizontal lines Movement

Series
Lighting conditions Colour

Final Series

Environment Unit Critical Appraisal Doorstep Paradise is a photographic series that explores the manicured landscape of a large housing development. I started this project looking at the natural British landscape, and the interferences and alterations being made as a result of our existence. The population is constantly increasing and as a result these beautiful landscapes are being replaced with large ugly housing developments. To communicate this rapid increase I wanted to represent the human interference with the landscape in a more blatant than subtle way. I associate the English Landscape with large fields and scattered oak trees, with the overall colour of the scene gradually changing throughout the seasons. Having lived in what is known as the garden of England my entire life, I cant help but notice how the landscape is gradually changing. The natural beauty of the landscape is slowly starting to disappear, and in its place large housing developments are being constructed. These large areas of natural land are being replaced with life size toy towns, where everything is perfect and nothing is out of line. The perfectly assembled houses are accompanied by small yet perfectly manicured landscapes. This idea of the perfect and the ideal form of landscape is something I have chosen to explore. Due to the rise in these large housing development projects I believe we are slowly losing touch which what is natural and what is not. I chose to approach the project in a way that is consistent throughout the series. Due to the concept of the project being about the idea of the perfect landscape, I felt that I should use precise and accurate measurements in every process from the taking of an image, to producing the final print, to communicate this idea of perfection. An example of this are the measurements I had to take before the taking of an image in order to be able to connect the images of the final series together like a puzzle and join the horizontal line of the paths, curbs and roads. The main subjects of my images are palm trees, due to them being a symbol of tropic and paradise. Palm trees are something we associate with hot weather and exotic places. This country is neither. One of the biggest challenges I had to overcome on this project involved attention to detail. I had set out to produce a perfect photographic series about the perfect landscape. I understood that the images themselves were not going to be perfect, but in technical and mathematic terms I wanted everything to be spot on. The hardest part of this was to match all of the colours for my final prints. Small changes in lighting conditions and locations while shooting meant that it was incredibly difficult to perfectly match all of the colours and tones. Next time I will need to be more aware of how such small differences in lighting conditions on location can make such a huge difference when it comes to producing a series of prints.