Evaluation - Narrative Landscape

Narrative Landscape required the use of either Large or Medium Format camera, I was looking forward to using medium format again for this part of On Assignment, last time around I had only used a Hasselblad, and it  was just for portraits, I did struggle at first with getting the exposures correct and focus nicely sharp, I did panic myself into taking some shots which didn't really pay off when you're restricted to 12 or so frames. I was determined to do much better this time round, the theme of narrative landscapes doesn't require a need for portraits, so my confidence was much stronger heading into this project. Since September I have been working with Gloucester City FC, who in October faced a turning point in their history, finally planning to return home to Meadow Park for this first time since the disastrous flood of 2007, leading to seven years of exile across Gloucestershire. I did not want this sit and watch this event pass by, and this was a great opportunity to document the landscape of Meadow Park as it stands, and provide the narrative of it's struggles before it is confined to history. 

In class we had a walk around Cheltenham with a Mamiya 645, which I think is a great camera to use, It works like an SLR, but much less comfortable to handle as such, I think that the light meter inside of the viewfinder was accurate, and I felt secure about not fogging film with the automatic back. Working without a tripod, and on a cloudy day, we were using 400 speed film, but the depth of field was poor at larger apertures, with a larger focal plain to cover. On my first shoot at Meadow Park, I used this same set-up, and the results show as I am not happy with the depth of focus in the images that I captured, I also noticed some shots that had missed focus again, which I found using the Hasselblad earlier in the year. I should have been more prepared for this shoot in a few ways, Using a tripod would have allowed me to use smaller apertures, for sharper images across the frame through lower shutter speeds, bring more film, one roll was not enough, using my iPhone to experiment with more shots around the ground.

I had learnt from past mistakes for my return to Meadow Park, I decided to bring a tripod for stronger depth of focus, using the self timer to operate the shutter and also slower film, I wanted to use 160 speed for a cleaner image, and also on the day it was much brighter than the previous visit, so it would be more appropriate to capture correct exposures. The images that I created on this second shoot were an improvement on the first, the focusing was much more accurate due to the depth of field, and stationary tripod. The lighting was not as even this time, it was sunny and not cloudy, but this cast a certain ambience around the ground, as if the sunset was finally setting on it's use. There was a noticeable difference in edits from each shoot as a result, so when putting together the final edit I felt the sharper images from the second shoot were more deserving of inclusion. A small edit of 4 images was restricting, so I had to compromise shots that document minor details around the ground, in favour of more general view images that provide views both into and outside this landscape.

I have enjoyed this project, I have definably experienced an improvement in the way that I operate using a medium format film system, and I engaged in a subject matter that is interesting to me with a story to be told. I could improve in a number of ways in the future however, if I was to start this project again, I would defiantly be more prepared, time management is something I lacked towards the start of this On Assignment module, dictating to myself where to allow time for each section. I feel more comfortable with using a Mamiya 645 now so less time will be spent learning about the system. I'd also like to improve the quality of my final prints, I think that they are not as sharp as they are represented on screen, so I would have to improve in the method of scanning.

Research - Stuart Roy Clarke

I think that Stuart Roy Clarke does an excellent job of capturing the atmosphere around a football ground, using wide lenses to document general views and close up details of the more mundane elements of the match day experience. I think his compositions will help me construct interesting images at Meadow Park, especially working with medium format as I can get richer details & colours across the frame. In grounds there are a lot of straight lines created by the simple architecture that need to be addressed when lining up a composition. Care will be needed when using a tripod to make sure levels are correct. 

Final Edit - 4 Images & Text.

The 4 images that I have chosen as my final portray the destruction & hardships that have faced Gloucester City's Meadow Park ground for the past 7 years.

 

Built in 1986, Meadow Park became the 9th home of Gloucester City AFC, when the tigers could grace the Southern League Premier Division in front of 4,000 supporters. Located in the Hempsted area of the city, Meadow Park is just a short distance from the banks of the river Severn. During the winter of 1990, heavy snowfall had affected the upper Severn, as this thawed, the flood plains were overwhelmed, submerging the pitch of Meadow Park under four feet of water, with no football being played for over a month. There was exciting plans ahead for the ground, as new owner Keith Gardner invested into the team, their success inspired plans for the areas surrounding Meadow Park to be transformed into a footballing centre for the local community.

Once again in December 2000, the Severn burst its banks and submerged the pitch under seven feet of water, infiltrating the changing rooms, this placed the club under serious financial stress as they could not generate revenue from matches for over six weeks. Gloucester was once again the victim of county-wide flooding in July 2007, this time engulfing the Meadow Park ground under eight feet of water, with just the top of the T-End crossbar visible.  This was a massive blow to the club, who had to move out and seek exile at Forest Green Rovers’ New Lawn Stadium. Cirencester Town welcomed the Tigers into their Corinium Stadium the following season, where the team later gained promotion into the Conference North. Under FA guidelines, a final move had to be made into Whaddon Road, the home ground of fierce rivals Cheltenham Town; this ground share agreement is still in effect today.

There have been a number of attempts for the club to return to Gloucester since its exile, including failed talks with Gloucester & Stroud Rugby Clubs. A return to Meadow Park had been rejected by Gloucester City Council in September 2012, as a more detailed flood assessment was required. Finally on the 7^th October 2014, approval was given for plans to redevelop Meadow Park, demolishing the current buildings before elevating the foundations of the ground; the club is also committing £75,000 flood improvement works in Hempsted.

1st Edit

I've now created an edit from the two shoots, with feedback from Anthony and the class it will help me get down to a final 4, wider shots showing the scene & overgrown landscape are stronger with this narrative than detailed shots. In the second shoot I tried to improve on the shots of the overgrown stand, the newer shots have a much better depth of field that are sharp across the frame and clearly document nature taking over this land. I'd like to include the shot of the gate from the first shoot, this image provides a perspective out from the ground, towards the source of it's destruction and is stronger than some of the other detail shots, The shots of the concrete blocks are different in both shoots too, I prefer the second one because of the low light, cutting across the top of them, the background also includes the clubhouse, which provides context for the location, and combines features of other images, in one. 

2nd Shoot - Meadow Park

On my second visit to the ground, I wanted to re shoot some scenes that I had not got right the first time round, mainly due to focus, and also different details that I did not shoot with the Mamiya last time around. This day was more sunny however, so there is a clear difference in the images from each shoot, I think that could be a problem when trying to find a final edit from each shoot.

Overall I think these shots are better than the first, I used a tripod & ISO160 film to make sure that the images were cleaner than previously, It was also a much brighter day which made for some interesting shadows & lighting situations. I was able to use a much smaller aperture this time around, getting more details in focus across the frames.

Research - John Davies

This shot from Jon Davies of Agecroft Power Station in Salford in 1983, is an example of how complex modern facilities of mankind  can be influential on the natural landscape. A wide focal length has been used to allow two large points of interest to be included. Which is what I should follow when shooting on Medium Format, with only 4 final prints to use it could be useful to include a lot of details in a small number of images.

'I try to look for the best view to show features in context, and aim to get the maximum detail from my photographs,' he says. The scene was taken on a clear day, from a position on a high tower block overlooking the prospect. The green park, its borders tidily framed in the manageable trees associated with municipal planting, is almost marooned in a sea of domestic dwellings that stretch as far as the eye can see.

In focus in the foreground are the diminutive figures of the bowls players, but the viewpoint reaches to the far horizon where one can glimpse a tooth-like frieze of high-rise buildings and industrial constructions, as well as the thrust of an occasional church spire. 'In composing the frame I like to find interesting aspects round the edges,' he says.

Research - Joel Sternfeld

We have been looking at Joel Sternfeld's work, I can take a number of things from his work such as the details he seeked out when capturing 'Walking the highline' featuring an abandoned rail line, loosing life to the elements after years of being degraded by humans. I too, can show nature here as a harsh and destructive element, forcing Gloucester City away from their home Meadow Park in 2007 due to floods, still standing to this day however with mother nature taking over it's foundations.

There are features in these images that I find interesting, that they are clearly situated in highly populated areas, however they are completely devoid of life and shown evidence of being neglected for a number of years. To re assure this point of view, he has shot on a cloudy day so that not a lot of colour tones can be captured, and that adds to the dull appearance. I think that in terms of composition he has used the larger format well, with defining details of the images predominately placed towards the centre of the frame.