In Search of Archetypes

Getting All Philosophical About Aerial Photography

Aerial and landscape photography for me is less about documenting or recording a place in time, and more about being a form of expression, more about how I'm feeling towards where I am. I prefer to produce photos true to my self rather than pandering to the norm, I prefer to be more expressive. I am constantly querying what it is about a scene that engages my creativity.

In my photography I'm constantly seeking to find interesting abstract elements that speak to us, be that through their innate beauty, simplicity, colour combinations or through the psychological phenomena through which we see recognisable shapes in clouds, rock formations or unrelated objects, which is called pareidolia, a form of pattern recognition.

Recognizable and iconic shapes, symbols and patterns with archetypal references really seem to resonate with us, for example a cross shape is a cross, a tree shape is a tree. Layered onto this how I use seek to use colour harmonies that elicit certain emotions, for example reds are fiery, blues are calming. And then it's about pairing back what is captured to its most simplistic composition, for example focusing only on two or three colors that work well together.

Journey with me on a recent open door helicopter trip through the Hunter Valley vineyards in New South Wales, Australia and I'll demonstrate how I search for archetypes. The photo above reminds me of an open book.

In the photo above I was drawn to the Y-shape in the layout of the vines.

In the shot above you can make out a circular shape, perhaps the ancient Greek letters alpha or even omicron.

When I'm up there in a helicopter or plane I see the landscape laid out in front of me. I go to work selecting areas that catch my attention and, putting a frame around them, I express what I see through photographs so others can understand what resonates with me. There are parallels with the work of some landscape painters in that when you view their works you know what resonated with them, even though it may not precisely and realistically look as the landscape does in real life.

The scene below caught my eye mainly for the repetition I see in the lineup of chalets.

And sometimes the pattern recognition is more in the emotion a scene evokes in me, and hopefully in you too. The scene below of a classic car  driving past a vineyard reminds me of taking Sunday drives out to the beautiful wineries near Cape Town in South Africa when I lived there. I also love the gradation of colours and contrast in the vines themselves.

I'm heading up to the Hunter Valley again this week and will raise a glass to you!