Deconstructing Environmental Photographers

When Looking at this Salt print image created by William Henry Fox Talbot the word “Pathetic Fallacy” which means where the weather reflects the mood comes in mind because Talbot had chosen to shoot on an overcast day in winter to convey this feeling of dormancy and bareness. The Way Talbot has positioned the camera makes the oak tree central and dominant in the photograph when compared to the other smaller trees in the background. He also reaffirms this feeling of superiority by slightly blurring the background. The oak tree has always been a symbol of wealth, power and politics and endurance. It is view as sacred by many different cultures throughout time and used as a national tree by many different countries around the world. I could interpret this photograph as being political to represent the class system of Great Britain when it was made in the late 19th century when the industrial revolution in Britain was at its peak. They are regarded as humble and wise due to their wrinkled appearance and extended age which could give them a human reference as elders in society. I also find that the tree seems to be quite isolated from the rest of the trees giving it a vulnerability as opposed to its cultured strength and might.