My photoshoots will explore the connection between humans and nature, emphasising our unity and the beauty we share with the natural world. This plan discusses my goals for multiple shoots as I will be carrying out more than one however, since they will be similar, this plan can be applied to both.
Who: I will be photographing multiple people, including my friends and my younger brother. They will convey different aspects of human connection with nature, from playfulness to admiration.
What: The images will capture the subjects interaction with natural elements such as flowers, trees, and sand. I will experiment with various poses and perspectives to compare the beauty of nature with human beauty, reinforcing the idea that we are intrinsically linked.
Where: The photoshoots will take place in scenic outdoor locations, including parks with greenery, vibrant flowers, and trees. I will also shoot at the beach to incorporate elements like sand, sea and rocks, adding more textures and contrast to my compositions.
Why: My aim for this project is to visually express the union between humans and nature, encouraging a deeper appreciation of the natural world. The images will also explore the similarities between natural beauty and human beauty, reinforcing the idea that we are a part of nature rather than separate from it.
When: The photoshoots will take place during the day to make use of natural sunlight. I will go while the sun is still high and shining allowing me to capture bright images where the light is highlighting all aspects of my images.
These photoshoots are inspired by the artist Sian Davey’s project, ‘The Garden’. My images will be similar in the way that the model will be accompanied by nature, making both the model and nature the main focus of the images. However, since I am incorporating different locations and aspects of nature my project will vary.
For this project’s theme of union, I am focussing on the unity between nature and humanity. Unity can be defined as the act of joining together or the fact of being joined together. My aim is to be able to show the deep yet often overlooked connection between humans and nature. I also want to highlight the harmony that once existed between humans and nature, which in some ways has been lost and emphasise that it should be restored.
I will be photographing a model, in multiple outdoor locations to have a variety of images. These locations will include parks, beaches and woodland. This will allow me to capture different aspects of nature such as the trees, leaves, grass, sand and sea showcasing the physical and symbolic unity between the subject and their environment. I will, for some shots, direct the model’s movements and poses to create a sense of connection, whether through touch, immersion or interaction with natural elements.
I have taken inspiration from Sian Davey’s project ‘The Garden’ which consists of photographs of people in a beautiful garden surrounded by trees, leaves and flowers. However, my images will differ due to the different locations and the style of photography I will use. When taking my images, I will instruct the model on behaviours and actions to ensure the poses are efficient.
After the images are taken, I will experiment with different cropping techniques to find the best way to present my images. I will also edit the images, adjusting things such as exposure, white balance and shadows to enhance the images. My final selection of images will be printed and mounted on foam, with variations in presentation – some as singular images and others arranged in sequences to highlight visual connections.
Through this project, my aim is to elicit a sense of unity and appreciation for nature, encouraging viewers to reflect on their relationship with the natural world.
Agnieszka Lepka is a Polish photographer whose work explores the intricate relationship between humans and nature. Through analogue photography, she draws visual parallels between human anatomy and natural elements. Lepka’s most recognised series, ‘Human vs Nature’, presents typological diptychs that juxtapose human anatomy with elements of the natural world. She pairs images of things such as eye veins with lightening, fingerprints with tree rings etc., highlighting the striking similarities between human biology and the environment. Her work suggests that rather than being separate from nature, we are intrinsically linked, sharing patterns, structures and rhythms. Through her work, Lepka challenges viewers to reconsider their relationship with nature as an extension of ourselves. Her photography acts as a bridge between art, science, and philosophy, offering a poetic yet profound reminder that the body and the earth share the same language.
During this project, Lepka primarily uses analogue cameras which require a more thoughtful and deliberate approach to composition. Whereas digital photography allows you to take multiple shots and review them instantly, film photography forces her to slow down and carefully consider framing, and focus on the essential details. This method aligns with the project’s theme of observation and connection between humans and nature. Her use of close-up photography captured details that may usually have been overlooked, reinforcing the idea that human bodies and nature share a profound, often invisible connection. It also emphasises the intricate patterns found in both the human body. It allows her to highlight textures like fingerprints, veins and skin imperfections, drawing direct visual comparisons to natural forms like tree rings, river paths, and topographic maps. She often usually works with soft natural lighting to keep an organic look and feel to her images. This lighting helps to unify human and natural elements, making them appear as part of the same visual and conceptual world. Lepka’s images often consist of deliberately plain, neutral backgrounds that are more simple. This is to keep the viewer’s attention on the diptych comparisons. By removing distractions, she allows the viewer to focus solely on the links between human anatomy and natural forms.
The project strips down the elements to their essence, removing unnecessary visual clutter to emphasize the connections between humanity and nature. The diptych format and framing gives the series a feel similar to scientific comparisons in biology or geology. Through the use of the natural light and analogue textures, Lepka creates an aesthetic that feels raw, organic, and deeply connected to nature. Her work also creates an emotional depth, encouraging viewers to reflect on their place within nature rather than apart from it.
Sian Davey is a British photographer whose work centres around her family, community and herself. She has published multiple books, held solo exhibitions, and accepted awards for her work. Davey was a psychotherapist before taking up photography in 2014, where she focused her work on those close to her, creating a deep sense of connection with her work. Davey is most renowned for her intimate and deeply personal approach to photography. Davey’s style is documentary-based, yet it conveys a strong emotional connection with her subjects, offering a sensitive and reflective portrayal of their lives.
Davey’s background in psychotherapy deeply influences her approach to photography. Her work isn’t just about capturing images but about understanding human connection, emotion and vulnerability. The Garden is a project that is both personal and communal. The idea originated during a time of emotional transition when her son Luke suggested that they transform their garden, mirroring their own personal healing.
Her project ‘The Garden’ consists of images taken in her own garden where she transformed it grow bold, colourful plants like mullein, poppies, sunflowers and more. As the garden flourished, it began to attract communities of people – mothers, daughters, grandparents, teenagers etc. Davey photographed the visitors amidst the vibrant plants capturing moments of joy, vulnerability and connection. The visitors of the garden weren’t just there to pose for photos, it was a chance for them to interact and experience the surrounding nature and to become a part of the story. She described the garden as evolving into “an expression of joy, interconnectedness, yearning, sexuality, and defiance” serving as a metaphor for the human heart. The Garden also symbolises growth, renewal, and the cycles of life. The transformation of an overgrown space into a thriving wildflower sanctuary mirrors personal transformation and resilience.
Davey’s photographic style consists of working with natural sunlight, enhancing the dreamlike and organic feel of her images. She also uses a shallow depth of field which isolates the subjects against a textured background of flowers and foliage. This creates a sense of intimacy and emotional depth, drawing the viewer’s attention to the focal point, the human presence within the landscape. Some of her images feature close, intimate framing, making the viewer feel as though they are physically in the garden with the subject. Whereas, others use wider framing, allowing the garden to play a dominant role in the storytelling, emphasising the relationship between people and nature.
Expressionism is a modernist movement which originated in Northern Europe during the early 20th century, it started within poetry and painting. It is known as the artistic style that captures the subjective emotions rather than the obvious, objective reality, it’s also the expression of inner experiences and spiritual themes. Some key characteristics of expressionism are: emotional intensity, distorted forms and exaggeration, rejection of realism, themes of alienisation, and influence on various art forms. Expressionism pieces often uses bold colours, exaggerated forms, and distorted perspectives to convey intense feelings such as anxiety, fear, or ecstasy. Some of the more notable artists who created work in the expressionist form are: Edvard Munch – The Scream (1893), a seminal work of psychological distress, Egon Schiele – known for expressive, raw, and sometimes unsettling portraits, Wassily Kandinsky – a pioneer of abstract expressionism, exploring the emotional power or colour and form and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner – a leading figure in the German expressionist group ‘Die Brücke‘.
Dadaism
Dadaism, or Dada, was an avant-garde art movement that emerged in the early 20th century, around 1916, in response to the horrors and absurdities of World War I. It is often seen as a rejection of traditional artistic values and conventions, as well as a critique of the logic and reason that had led to the war. Dadaists sought to challenge and disrupt the status quo, using absurdity, chaos, and irrationality as their primary tools. Although Dadaism was relatively short-lived, fading by the early 1920s, it had a profound influence on later art movements like Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Pop Art. Dadaism remains one of the most radical and challenging art movements, and its spirit of questioning, disrupting, and rethinking continues to resonate in contemporary art and culture. Some notable figures: Marcel Duchamp – known for his ready-mades, like Fountain (1917) and L.H.O.O.Q. (a defaced Mona Lisa), Hannah Höch – a pioneer of photomontage, using cut-out images to challenge gender and political norms, Tristan Tzara – one of the movement’s founders and key figures in Dada poetry and manifestos and Hugo Ball – created the first Dada performances at the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich.
Surrealism
Surrealism was an influential art and literary movement that began in the 1920s, it was influenced by Dadaism, but it developed into a distinct and unique approach to exploring the unconscious mind, dreams, and the irrational aspects of human experience. Surrealism is known for its strange, dream-like imagery and the attempt to reconcile the conscious and unconscious realms of experience. The key elements include dream imagery and illogical scenes, juxtaposition and unexpected combinations, influence of psychology and the subconscious and an element of surprise and playfulness. Some most known surrealist artists are: Salvador Dalí – known for The Persistence of Memory (1931), featuring melting clocks in a dreamlike landscape, René Magritte – famous for thought-provoking paintings like The Son of Man (a man with an apple covering his face), Max Ernst – experimented with collage, frottage (rubbing textures), and dreamlike imagery and Joan Miró – created abstract, playful works full of symbols and organic shapes.
Futurism
Futurism was an avant-garde art movement that began in Italy in the early 20th century, around 1909, and was closely tied to a fascination with modern technology, speed, and change. It was a celebration of the future, breaking away from traditional art forms and embracing innovation and dynamism. Futurism aims to capture the energy of modern life, from machinery to urban landscapes, and it rejected the past in favour of the new and the progressive. It was founded by the poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti with his Futurist Manifesto (1909). Some key features of Futurism are speed, energy and movement, glorification of technology and war, dynamic, repetitive forms, bold colours and strong lines and rejection of the past. A few futurist artists include: Umberto Boccioni – Unique Forms of Continuity in Space (1912), a sculpture capturing movement and fluidity, Giacomo Balla – Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash (1912), showing rapid motion with overlapping forms and Gino Severini – blended cubism and futurism in works like Armoured Train in Action (1915).
The word ‘union’ signifies the act of joining together, forming a cohesive whole from different elements. It can refer to relationships, communities, politics and more. A union represents strength in togetherness, emphasising the idea that combined efforts can lead to greater impact.
Union in photography can be captured in many ways. For example, you could capture physical things intertwined or connected, reflections, symmetry. Oppositely, you can record the contrast and tension within unity and division.
For my project exploring the theme of union, I will research and explore the different ways I could capture this within photography.
