PHOTOBOOKS PART 7: SENSE OF PLACE
Capturing sights and activities unique to a destination really help to bring a place to life.
All Photo Credits: (c) T J Allen Art
Iconic Imagery – Usual vs Unusual Angles
In the case of travelling, you'll come across sights that are iconic of certain destinations and the culture within that country, which is why I like to take photos of day-to-day goings-on because it really sparks the imagination and highlights what is different from your own local area. For me, this comes in the form of road signs/architecture/transport and foods/clothing/job roles synonymous with that part of the world.
There will, of course, be famous iconic sights that you want to capture but it's worth thinking outside the box in terms of how you want to photograph something that has already been photographed a million times before. For example, everyone knows what Michelangelo's 'David' statue looks like and it is 99% of the time photographed centrally and in full (head to toe). I mean, for all we know, he might actually have a completely flat slab of unfinished marble for his back and buttocks, which is why I took a photo from the 'un-seen side' to show an angle that is normally filled in only by our own imaginations (it's ok, I can confirm he flaunts a very pert backside!). As an artist and craftsperson, I am always fascinated by levels of detail and I often try to comprehend how things are made. I specifically took a series of close-up shots to honour the levels of hand-made accuracy that simply cannot be observed from a distanced photograph.
Local Activities
It's also important to record elements of activities that are unique to a destination. The examples below show cultural activities in Rwanda, including a lesson in how to weave baskets and make banana beer (it's hard work!) and also an aerial yoga class in Bali (so much fun!). These are all key elements that bring your photobook to life.
Food Glorious Food
This hardly needs any introduction given the modern-day trend of people photographing and posting what they have for dinner! Yes, food! Images of such that instantly make your taste buds tingle and your mouth water. I love capturing images at local delis and cafés of home-made local delicacies and I always try to stop-by a local market to take in all the weird and wonderful produce I've sometimes never seen before. These are vibrant and colourful places to take some fantastic images.
Iconic Pilgrimages
What can I say - I did indeed carry a watermelon!
I've been on a few 'pilgrimages' to famous sights shown in the movies including 'The Notebook, 'Dirty Dancing' and 'The Sound of Music'. It's great to have photographs that show key landmarks in the films and to re-enact some of the infamous scenes. I mean, it would be rude not to!
So, it there is a film that you absolutely love that has been filmed somewhere you can visit, add it to the travel bucket-list and bring it to life!
'Borrowing' Imagery
There are occasions where you might not be able to get the image you want in order to tell your story but it doesn't have to end there. I was privileged to watch the astounding equine performance at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, and although I was able to photograph the empty arena during a tour, it was not permitted to film or record any part of the live performance or the horses. It was such a stunning display of equine athleticism and incredible horsemanship (and to be honest, the main reason why I had wanted to visit Vienna in the first place), that I couldn't leave it out of my photobook. My next-best option was to search for 'copyright free' images on the internet. You'll see from the example below that it is a wonderful way to portray the experience in the only way possible.
(NOTE: it's particularly important not to use images you don't have permission to use)
