Looking at Trees

looking at

trees

ISOBELLE POVER

WE HIDE IN A FOREST, HOPE IN AN OASIS, EAT IN AN ORCHARD, PLAY IN THE WOODS.

TREES stand waiting to be leaned on, hugged, shaped, carved, cut down, sawn off, protected, watered, pruned, burnt, climbed, walked on, shade us and and give shelter from a storm, be symbolic and significant.

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Trees are a part of our lives in hundreds of ways.

OUR locations, climate and culture shape our treescapes and we can preserve and protect these with planning and planting. Our cities feel better with tree lined streets, they soften and shade our pathways. Forests, woods, hursts and stands define the form of the terrain, their preservation and propagation can be appreciated.

This small collection of images celebrates the trees I’ve seen.

WE CONTEMPLATE THEIR BEAUTY FOR OUR WELLBEING

THE WAY I SEE THEM

This collection of photographic images record parts of my daily whereabouts. I’ve not gone out of my way to find the perfect shot, I’ve recorded what’s been around me, the variety in the locations.

My work is not technically all it could be, I prefer to leave the images as original digital files unless an adjustment saves a shot from being deleted and has some merit to be included.

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The style of photography is most likely influenced by photographers of the early eras from the 20’s to 80’s whilst studying at design college in London. I spent many hours walking the streets and parks and rushing back to the lab to process my films. I marvelled in the darkroom as the black and white prints developed before my eyes.

Photography is a medium that can reflect mood and ambiance, I look at trees in this way to capture a thought or aspiration. The shape and texture of the tree stretching, gnarled, showing signs of new growth after a drought or winter, the passing of seasons, to be enjoyed.

Have you walked down long streets with no trees, the barrenness whether by design or accident effects a feeling of a disconnection. Our trees reflect so much about us, if we could just let them be we may all feel so much better.

Sometimes I think they’ll pull up their roots and walk.

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Winter in Vevey, by the lake, Switzerland

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Vevey, Switzerland

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Lakeside Promenade, Vevey

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^ Lichen covered branches, Wiltshire, UK. Old tree, Switzerland >

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Les PlĂŠiades, Vaud, Switzerland

Vevey, Switzerland

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Early morning , Greenwich Bushland, Sydney

After the rain, Greenwich, Sydney

Gum tree losing its bark in a change of temperature

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Harold Park Reserve, Sydney

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This is a ďŹ rst collection of images that have been captured on walks and sorties on errands, many casually captured. I cannot imagine leaving this project where it stands as more ideas add in to the library of shots.

The last shot here maybe the beginning of a new collection of images where the building interacts in some way with the trees around it. Were these planted after the building was complete or was the built environment responding to well established trees in the landscape? Can I ďŹ nd a building that was inspired in some way by the colour and texture of the trees? Issy

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ISOBELLE POVER © 2010

trees