before this project began i had thoughts about the future landscaping brief, these photos were taken in bath before the virus hit, they show an old forgotten landscape over grown with trees.
this area is a place i offend visit with my friends to smoke and escape our burdens of uni for a moment, allowing us to immerse ourselves in nature. one day we noticed theres a small trail noted by the white paint markings on the trees, they lead to an opening behind the bus shelter near the student accommodation. this was following our portrait project, i titled this folder “the trees have eyes” because i noticed the knots in the trunks, to this is could project personalities to them making them seem like they are alive as if they were watching us.
from this i didnt really look at the photos too much more other than filtering them down as i had to continue my portrait project.
maybe not take time to read other posts and return to the analysed of these photos as they were edited with new knowledge
coming back to these photos with fresh eyes and sights on my landscaping project i was able to look at them in a new context in mind
because these photos were taken in December they provide a different atmosphere to the photos taken proceeding this, as well as presenting lower light value with a lower sun, making them appear softer without the strong sun rays bleeding through the foliage above – since there is very little foliage above
the trees shed their foliage, allowing their leaves to fall in the cool air of December, covering the floor in their confetti as they begin to celebrate the winter solstice (22nd of December)
i really like this painted trail as its not walked very often by many people, they show a guide through this secluded so that one may return the way they came, maybe this coneys ideas of children’s story books like Hansel and Gretel
as you walk through this trail, you start to feel as if someone is watching you, as if there were eyes observing your every move, some watch and stare at you making sure you dont disturb their peace, while others are malevolent, name calling you as you walk by. a lot can be gathered and understood by these trees as each other them convey different ideas in the form of they present.
some are neutral and passive, some laugh with their tort knots warped upwards, others snarl with their vertical slits
as you walk through this decapitated wall you enter this trail, it use to be apart of an old mill in bath, that probably used the river adjacent for hydro power, taking adventage of the early power generation to turn big wheels. since then the building is no longer stands there, and all that reminds is this broken wall. parts of this wall are now used as chairs to sit on
i love the foliage here and wanted to showcase this in a close up looking through the leaves and up to the sky allowing the light filter through and highlight the veins that supply tree with nutrients
as you walk through this trail you come to a small opening filled with broken chairs and old discarded bbqs, a key feature of this opening is a green Buddha tapestry, giving it this spot an ethereal meditative aesthetic, – though talking unprofessionally this place looks like a gross drug spot you really wouldnt want to be caught in. i like the energy it provides tho, as it makes this link to the trippy eyes
taking this view above eye level i started pointing my camera to the branches above because i heard them twisting in the breeze, they make a gentle clacking noise as they brush up against each other. subverting this prospective provides different denotations, as we look up we look for this higher presence, it looms over our heads
using my refined Japaneses style filter for the photo on the left, it presents a soft presence. while my second edit removes the color channel mix giving it a more sinister presence that looms over, i opted to call these night time edits because of its sky alterations
Alex's Photos & Thoughts 