Hannah Vallance
An investigation into
contemporary British Culture through the medium of Photography
Introduction
British Culture is an important area to study because it
enables us to look at the different aspects of British society. When investigating
this subject there are many areas around Britain that link to this topic,
photographing different places in Britain enable us to find the most important
features that link into this subject. Within this topic there are many areas
that you can photograph to compare, e.g. when comparing Central London with the
seaside areas we can see the different lifestyles that people live and the
different activities that go on there. Photographing in central London will
show a certain lifestyle, it is busier in London, which can be documented, and
also there are underground stations that are a part of London life. There are
many landmarks around Britain that symbolise the area they have been taken in
and Britain itself, these landmarks are important within this topic because
when people think of Britain some of these landmarks come to mind. Photographing
the seaside landscapes also serve as importance within this topic because it
shows a completely different culture than London, documenting British culture
at the beach will show us the stereotypical activities that British people
carry out when they are on holiday. Landscape photography helps compare the
different views that can be seen around Britain which helps carry out this
subject, also photographing the activities and lifestyles that are present
within these different places can help establish the different cultures. Photographers
that can link to this topic not only have researched British Culture but also
culture around the world. This investigation will explore "British
Culture" which will show urban landscapes, seaside towns and countryside
landscapes. I am looking to research
British identity through photography. I will do this by researching a range of
photographers whose work provides an insight on the diversity of British
Culture/customs in different locations.
History
The history
related to this topic dates to when photographers took images in black and
white, British Culture not only relates to the history of landscape photography
but also documentary photography. 1 The history of landscape photography dates back to
landscape painters, for example Giorgione. Giorgione was an apprentice to the
painter Giovanni Bellini where he learnt all the skills he needed to become an
artist. He went on to become the first artist to paint people within a
landscape. After he died he left behind a legacy, his personal interpretations
on subjects and emphasis on beauty of nature influenced future artists. 2 In a lot of these artists work they display the rule
of thirds, which is used when we look at landscape photography, the background,
middle ground and foreground. The rule of thirds dates back to John Thomas
Smith in the 18th Century, he states that there should not be two
equal lights within a painting/photograph and two thirds should contain shadow.
This idea is carried on into modern day photography; the majority of modern
landscapes use the rule of thirds as most pictures contain a background, middle
ground and foreground. A photographer who progressed on from painters was Alfred
Stieglitz, he wanted to change people’s idea of creative mediums, he wanted to
prove that photography was an artistic medium similar to a painting or
sculpture. Stieglitz used a Folmer and Schwing 4x5 plate
film camera which differs from the technology we use today as digital cameras
do not use film, this wouldn’t have seriously impacted the way he took his
photos negatively but the lack of colour within his images may have inhibited
what we see. Some of his work shows landscape photography but he
focuses more on documentary photography, which can also link into this topic. Documentary
photography became more famous when WW1 broke out because this is the era when
photographers wanted to document the war and the feelings that were 
expressed by the people during this time, for
example Frank Hurley documented images of WW1 (left image). This idea of
documentary photography has progressed through the years and various
photographers use it in different ways, for example Robert Frank uses
documentary photography to express the sadness in American around the 1960s and
Martin Parr uses documentary photography to show a comedic and positive
attitude. There are different ways to express documentary photography within
British Culture, in positive ways and negative ways. Robert Frank documents
America in a negative way by showing the effects of racism in the 1960s and
Martin Parr uses documentary photography in a positive way by showing the lives
of the British people at the beach.Photographer Research
3 One photographer that works with landscape
photography is Simon Roberts. Born in 1974, Roberts is a British photographer
who deals with relationships with landscapes and notions of identity and
belonging. The way that he incorporates in with British culture is his book and
exhibition called We English, he
travelled throughout England in 2007 for a year using a large format camera
capturing people at play, and exploring the relationship between people and the
places they visit.4 One of Roberts images that
links in with British Culture is the image he took at Skegness Beach,
Lincolnshire, 12th August 2007.
In this photograph we can see people carrying out different activities
at the beach, the sea and the sky have merged into one and it doesn’t seem as
though the weather is particularly good. The weather gives the image more of a
darker and duller atmosphere. From the image we can see that there is a mixture
of older and younger people, this suggests that the environment brings
different people from different backgrounds and ages together. Without the
people in the image Roberts wouldn’t have been able to develop his ideas of
identity and belonging. The people in the picture have been given the identity
and belonging because they are the main features of the image. By photographing
the people in this way it links to the theme of British Culture as it shows the
love the British people have for the beach even in colder weather conditions.
Another image taken by Roberts similar to the one before is one taken at Keyes
Country Park Beach, Shornecote, Gloucestersire, 11th May 2008.
Another photographer that I have been investigating is
Martin Parr; he works similarly to Robert Frank in documenting British life but
in a different way. Born in 1952, Parr is a British photographer known for his
documentation of British people on Brighton beach. Parr expresses his images as
propaganda because they include garish colours and the perspectives are
unusual, his main ideas are, criticism, seduction and humor. He also documents
his images in a way that we think about the way we live our lives, how we
express ourselves and what we value. One Parr image that relates to British
Culture is this one. 
In this image we can see a man eating beans and chips. The picture is extremely saturated to increase the vibrancy of the colours and to add to the positive effect, also this image has been cropped to focus in on the food and the mans hand. The image focuses in on this part because it shows symbolism of the beach. Although we cannot see the seaside but because of the saturated colours and the traditional food we can tell that this is located at the seaside. Martin Parr seems as though he is photographing the working class because this is the stereotypical meal for the working class when they are on holiday. The way that he has focused in on the mans ring almost seems as though he is making fun of him as we wouldn't associate this man with having the riches by the food he is eating. This is associated with Parr’s humorous effect on his images. Although the food isn't in focus I am immediately drawn to it because these images are supposed to represent the stereotypical life of the seaside towns and the only symbol that represents a seaside theme is the food he is eating. The stereotypical values within this image relates to British Culture. Another one of Parr’s images that relates to British Culture follows.
In this image we can see a man eating beans and chips. The picture is extremely saturated to increase the vibrancy of the colours and to add to the positive effect, also this image has been cropped to focus in on the food and the mans hand. The image focuses in on this part because it shows symbolism of the beach. Although we cannot see the seaside but because of the saturated colours and the traditional food we can tell that this is located at the seaside. Martin Parr seems as though he is photographing the working class because this is the stereotypical meal for the working class when they are on holiday. The way that he has focused in on the mans ring almost seems as though he is making fun of him as we wouldn't associate this man with having the riches by the food he is eating. This is associated with Parr’s humorous effect on his images. Although the food isn't in focus I am immediately drawn to it because these images are supposed to represent the stereotypical life of the seaside towns and the only symbol that represents a seaside theme is the food he is eating. The stereotypical values within this image relates to British Culture. Another one of Parr’s images that relates to British Culture follows.
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In this image we can
see what looks like an old woman because of the wrinkles on her had lying
on a sun lounger in her bikini. She is holding a cigarette between her fingers;
she is also wearing jewelry and had red nails. This image has also
been saturated like Parr's other work, by saturating the image we can see
the scale of the tan this lady has as it makes her skin look rubbery. This adds
to the comedic effect that Parr leaves on his photos as he is showing the
comedy values of how British people love to tan. The way that Parr edits his
images creates an increased orange tone to the tanned skin of the British
people adding a comedic effect to the image. Parr has cropped the picture
so that it is focused on her hand, this shows that he wants to
emphasize the fact that she is smoking, we don't tend to associate older
women with smoking but the fact that she's wearing red nail polish could
show that she has an element of rebellion within her as we associate red
with danger. Parr's comedic values could also come into effect with
the jewelry that she is wearing, like the man eating the chips,
these people wouldn't normally be associated with the riches which is why
he has focused in on her jewelry. Her nail polish stands out to
me in this image because it is very vibrant and obvious. Overall,
Martin Parr relates to British Culture because he documents British people in
their holiday environment in a comedic way that makes us think about the way we
live our lives.
Relevance
of the photographer’s research to my personal project.
Also, Simon
Roberts has influenced my work; I took this image at Clacton whilst
investigating British Culture at the beach. I think it relates to Simon Roberts
well because these people seems as though they should naturally be there and
this is where they belong. It shows people belonging to a landscape; British
people belong at the beach in the summer. Without the people in the image it
wouldn’t have, as much meaning as it does, within the landscape there are many
activities going on that we can focus, for example the child with her mum in
the sea. This is the element of Simon Roberts that I have taken and used within
my personal project; within a landscape there will be different activities
going on that we can concentrate on that relate to the environment. Roberts
doesn’t get close to his subject, which is something I have adapted when taking
landscapes as it allows more elements of the environment within the image and
it also prevents us asking what is beyond the image. Within my project I have
concentrated on making sure that there is great detail within the sky, which is
an element that Roberts doesn’t focus on as in majority of his images the sky
and land merge into one. However, Roberts has influenced my work as I have
concentrated on people as well as landscapes.
Developments of Landscape and Documentary Photography
In the future there are
many ways in which landscape and documentary photography will develop.
Documentary photography will develop, as photographers will begin photographing
different events that may happen in the future. Currently there are many
terrorist attacks in the country, as year’s progress there will be developments
within the country that will enable a photographer to document the changes and
the events. For example, we can already
see barriers being put up around London to prevent cars mounting the pavement
and ploughing people down. These changes will become more apparent in the
future enabling photographers to use documentary to show the heartbreak and
changes in the country. Also, in my opinion I can see landscape documentary
developing in a negative way as the countryside landscapes that we all fall in
love with will eventually be taken from us as more houses and workplaces are
being built. Within Britain the countryside landscapes may be taken from us but
the industrial landscapes will develop even more and this may open up a door
where landscape photography and documentary photography work together. Along
the lines of technological development there is constantly new technology being
developed which will progress the photo taking all together. Personally, I
think that the developments of mobile phones will affect the progression of
photography in both positive and negative ways. Mobile phones are now used to
document our lives and various pictures and videos are posted to social
networks such as Instagram, this develops photography in a positive way as more
people are experiencing this form of documentary photography but it will direct
people away from using handheld cameras as a phone has been established to take
a good image. Eventually, our phones will develop a 4K camera, which may divert
away the use of handheld cameras.
Conclusion
Overall, throughout
this investigation into British Culture I have found new ideas I can
incorporate within my personal project and have understood where the idea of
photography came from. My investigation into the history behind photography,
specifically landscape and documentary, has enabled me to understand the impact
that the composition of the image has and how important the rule of thirds is
to every photographer. Also, researching into the past presented me with black
and white images, this has helped me understand the idea that both colour and
black and white images can present a strong meaning within the image. In
relation to the research I carried out on photographers I have understood the
impact of documentary and landscape photography on expressing the ideas of
British Culture. Martin Parr takes more of documentary approach when
documenting British Culture which I have adapted to within my work. I chose to
research Parr as I enjoy the comedic effect he puts into the images as I agree
with how hooked British people are with getting a tan and how they are obsessed
with how they look etc. However, in some images there are elements of Parr’s
comedic value that goes slightly over the top as he practically mimics the
clothes and jewelry the British people are wearing. I like Parr’s comedic
effect but I will not use this aspect in my personal project. Another
photographer that I have researched is Simon Roberts, he uses landscapes and
people to express British Culture. I chose to research Roberts because his idea
of people belonging to a landscape which I wanted to research further. Within
my personal project I have learnt from Roberts that rather than worrying about
people within the landscape, find a way for them to belong. The landscapes that
I have photographed will consist of people which will link to Roberts’ work.
From both of these photographers I have learnt how I can photograph British
Culture within my personal project using landscape and documentary photography.
In the future of my project I will consist to take photos of landscapes around
Britain but using the ideas and techniques of Parr and Roberts.
1 – Giorgione Biography, Last
Modified May 15, 2015 (https://www.biography.com/people/giorgione-9312209) Accessed on 1st November 2017
2 – Who wrote the Rule of Thirds, (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/who-wrote-rule-thirds%3F) Accessed on 1st November 2017
4 - Simon Roberts We English, (http://www.ahornmagazine.com/issue_4/essay4_roberts/simon_roberts.html) Accessed on 1st November 2017
5 – Martin Parr Introduction (https://www.martinparr.com/introduction/) Accessed on 8th November 2017
Please add the slideshare version.. linked to the oiginal word document..
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