See the Bigger Picture. I have been working within the stunning South Devon AONB on a project that aims to record views of the changing landscape from a Fixed Point. It is set to be continued over 20 years, with a series of panoramic images shot seasonally at each of the 8 chosen sites. I also shoot static and panning HD videos accompanied by high quality sound recordings to really capture each site and enrich the photographs. As it grows the work will provide a rich archive of the landscape, becoming a fantastic tool with a number of practical applications.
- The project is able inform landscape changes by documenting its history
- It can highlight the chosen sites to the community (most are public access, or have access near by)
- A quantitive assessment of change can be provided using the images in conjunction with a Geographical Information System
- Over time, the project will build real evidence of landscape change that can be analysed to assess whether or not the development and land management activities seen within the views have conserved and enhanced the special qualities of the AONB. This evidence will support and shape new plans, programmes and projects including the AONB’s own Management Plan to safeguard our living, working landscape into the future and informing future decisions.
My involvement has included shooting technically challenging panoramic photographs, advising on equipment as well as producing tailored training materials. See below for examples of the photographs.
East Portlemouth - South Devon AONB
Sharpham - looking up the River Dart, towards Totnes - South Devon AONB
East Cornworthy - South Devon AONB
Slapton - South Devon AONB
Next steps of the project involve looking into the little known effects of light pollution in our night skies, a growing issue I was interested to learn about. To explore this further I will be using the Fixed Point sites for some night-time panoramic photographs, and developing more creative ways to illustrate and document the growing problem.
Click here to see an informative PDF on the project.
