Preparation Assignment 3

Assignment 3 Space to Place plan

Space = a continuous area or expanse which is free, available or unoccupied

Place = particular position, point or area in a space or location

Different types of places – usually involve or have involved people.

Expand with examples and reasons for selecting my choice

First choice abandoned – mill -no access to interior, second choice abandoned – forestry commission cut out swathes of trees from WW1 training camp at Clipstone – no access at present to trenches.

Chosen place Cromford Mill, Derbyshire

Chosen because I am familiar with it. School trips to different attractions in the area – memories, watched restoration of mill complex over several years. Far enough away from home to feel like it is a day out. Place that my children enjoyed

exploring. Good café and area for children to feed ducks after a walk.  

Looked at different photographer’s approaches to place:

James Morris Landscape of Wales

goes where tourists don’t go

post industrial areas – buildings and architecture – historical importance

questions past and future

composition – diagonals, horizontal, curves, foreground interest, middle ground  interest, background interest, hills, always taken from standing? Same perspective – sometimes above subject, most colours greys and greens, large square format, dull, often misty weather

George Miles Views of Matlock Bath

Next village to Cromford. Images more rural, not what tourist would always see, green, uses different seasons, large format, much tighter composition than Morris often showing smaller area in frame.

1. Cromford overlooking village

Shows location, Foreground, middle ground, background interest, Sunlight picks out Arkwright’s house and some of village. Mill not visible – hidden in trees

2 (2a). Cromford’s other history – surrounded by mines and quarries. Historical quibbles between miners and Arkwright. History of land v industry Not sure if to include image or not.

3. (picture not taken yet) Cromford Mill from Heights of Abraham / Gulliver’s Kingdom? Mill not visible from this side of village. Can only see Masson Mills (next one along river). Found an open source map with suggestion of footpath behind mill. Try this next time.

4. Bear Pit

Arkwright used the “sloughs” – water channelled from the mine to power the mills. Dispute over whose water it was. Decline of mines and mill prospered (Gate locked) Raised viewpoint from standing on wall. Full frame camera with 24mm lens. Try 10-20 mm lens. Not sure how much distortion there would be. Set of steps and shoot across to include raised gardens?

5. Water

Only running water at mill due to renovations. This was an afterthought on the day – need to take on tripod and use 10-20mm lens.

6. West side of mill

Vegetable growing, person in garden? Try visiting earlier in the day. Links in with old photo. Could remove if plant sales of cup of tea are better.

7. Plant Sales

Plants give foreground interest to dead space. Need to leave space to walk through. ? Shoot from further to the left. Customers as well as owner?

8. Final phase board

Needs someone to read the noticeboard and add some interest/interaction to the photo.

9. Mill renovations

OK

10. View across water

Try shooting different angles to include more reflections

11. Second Mill

Like the idea of the viewing platform. Modern v old. Adds height. Like person viewing board. Try shooting to include more of the bridge – slightly different angle.

Cup of tea (image not taken yet)

View of dog walkers and their dogs outside with teapots

12. Wharf

Looked at duck feeding – doesn’t link in. Couple walking away (leaving building) –Wharf is raised. Perspective? Time it so boat is in dock? Boat trips 3 times a week.

Decided to abandon this and revisit idea on clipstone training camp. Closer to home. Seasonal (Novemver - remembrance), current - 100 years commemoration.