Connecting Essay 5

The above image is my own photograph taken in my local town of Waltham Abbey, for my shoot number six. The pathway which is slightly covered by leafs creates a leading line trough the centre of the image, with trees evenly space apart on each side of the path. I chose to convert my image into black and white in order to highlight the tonal differences, likewise to the inspiration of this shoot- Ansel Adams. The meaning of my image was to show how effortlessly beautiful and simple nature is in this mad world; additionally, I wanted to champion its preservation from pollution by photographing this simple yet effective image. The path is a lighter tone in comparison to any other colouring within the image, this may imply there's hope, as white is often associated with innocence and hope; furthermore, white is also associated with purity and God, therefore this path could symbol a pathway to heaven. 

This image was photographed by Ansel Adams, the fog creates mystery within this image as you cannot see the end of the pathway, therefore the viewer doesn't know where this path leads to. Fog is commonly associated with negative connotations, subsequently this signifies to the viewer that this area may not be welcoming of people. The trees are an extremely dark black in comparison to the white pathway, this links to the connotation of a funeral in the audience's mind, as the trees look as though they're 'dressed in black.' Some branches of the trees obtain no leaves on them, this again links to the connotation of death, as the trees are bare. The leading line that the pathway creates within this image carries the viewers eyes to the background form the foreground, allowing the viewer to explore all of the detailing in this bleak image. The fact that the image is in black and white again links to a funeral with white symbolising hope, and black symbolising death, this again creates melancholy and bleak undertones within this photograph. 

Overall, I chose to compare my image with Ansel Adam's as my shoot was initially inspired by Ansel Adams, therefore my photographs would evidently be similar to his. Both of our images are in black and white which creates mystery, as the viewer cannot tell what season this image may have been taken in, as they cannot see the colours of the leaves that are on the trees. Leading lines are explored in mine and Adam's images through the use of pathways, the pathways are positioned central in both images meaning they carry the viewers eyes to the background of both images. The trees which line the pathways in the images almost appear like guards marking the path, this my link to how trees are considered strong and bold, like body guards, therefore they're attempting to defend nature itself. Fog is used in Adam's image which creates more ambiguity than in my photograph, whereby there's no fog meaning the viewer can clearly see the background.