Discussion of Exam Paper

Discussion of Exam Paper

Land Use

Photographers

John Davies

John Davies is one of Britain's most famous photographers because of his research on British industrial landscape. His research links him to this exam title because he explores how Britain uses land to build industrial sites. 

In this black and white image we can see a power station in the middle of a field. Davies has chosen to document this image in black and white to emphasise how this power station has negatively affected the landscape. In the middle ground of the image we can see people playing football, this can add to how the power station affects the landscape negatively, it was originally a beautiful family friendly place and now it has been made ugly and uninviting. This image links to the exam topic of land use because it shows how land is used in different ways. It also links to the idea that I want to carry out within this topic that land is used in both negative and positive ways, power stations are negative uses and football/sports is a positive use. This image has influenced me because I think the way it is composed and the black and white effect adds to the meanings throughout the image. 

This is another black and white image presented by John Davis. In the image we can see a street, the main focus on this street is the two buildings, on the left hand side there is an older victorian building and on the right hand side there is a modern building. By placing these buildings together it shows a contrast between old and modern. This image links to the exam topic land use because it shows how both old and new buildings exist and also shows how the older buildings are being established into modern buildings. Although this image is documented in the same black and white tones as the image it has a different atmosphere, there isn't a negative effect of these buildings like the power station in the previous image. This image has influenced the photographs I will take in my shoots because it extends my idea of comparing old buildings to new buildings.

David Spero

This is an image taken by David Spero within his focus on garden studies. This image was taken in the middle of a forest and the main focus is the man made home in the centre of the image. This image shows how someone has used objects to make a home for themselves. To an extent this image shows abandonment  to the land as it looks ugly and derelict. His work links to the exam title land use because it shows how land is used in a residential way but not just to build houses. In a way this mage explores the negative uses of land because this image looks ugly and derelict however, it can be seen in a positive way because the availability of the land has provided someone with a home. This image can influence my work because it shows how the landscape doesn't necessarily have to look inviting, if it tells a story it can still fit in with the exam title. 

Spero presents several images of a garden, above is one of the images. In the image we can see a circular patch of grass that is surrounded by bushed and trees as well as garden ornaments. Placed on the ground is a spade and a grass trimmer, this shows how as well as building on the land humans also look after the land. This contrasts with the photographer Davies as he mainly shows how buildings negatively effect the land. Spero presents a positive land use within this image because the land is visible and there are no buildings spoiling it. His idea of documenting gardens relates to the exam topic land use because it shows the different ways people use their gardens. This image has influenced my work because although I am not interested in documenting gardens it still gives me the idea to document how different people use the land.

Dorothea Lange

This image was taken by Dorothea Lange within the Great Depression period. In the image we can see a woman and a boy getting water from a tap in the middle of a field, in the background there are tents which we assume is used for people's homes within the period. The land looks dry with no grass which can be considered to link in with the period, the Great Depression affected the US people and this can be mirrored in the conditions of the land. This image links to the exam topic land use because it shows how the land is used and not looked after in a time where people are only caring about money and their businesses. This image can link to my work because as well as documenting how the land is used I can also document the conditions the land is in as it may establish the meaning of the image more.

This is another image taken by Dorothea Lange in the Great Depression. In this image we can see men working on a farm. The ground is dry and cracked which can also represent the emotions within the Great Depression. This image shows how people use the land to work, this can be considered as a positive land use because there are no buildings being used unlike previous images from different photographers. I can use this image to influence my work because there are many job occupations that work within the land for positive reasons which I could document. 

Definitions

Diversity - a range of different things.

Expansive - covering a wide area in terms of space or scope.