Simon Roberts and Ruut Blees Luxemburg

Simon Roberts
D.O.B: 1974
Place of birth: Croydon, England
Occupation: Photographer

• Roberts' photography deals with the way in which society interacts with their environment.  
• His photographs are taken using a high format technique.
• He was commissioned to document the UK election process in 2010.
• The election project series was created by Roberts driving around Britain in his motor home and taking images from the roof with a plate camera.

The idyllic landscape formed from grass and trees as well as the light blue sky creates a feeling of calm which is maintained even after taking into account the tower blocks and brick houses.  The people in the shot also add a sense of calm to the piece out to fact that they are the smallest element of the piece and they actions appear to not greatly effect the image.

This image of Stonehenge is interesting because it's inclusion of the famous landmark makes it explicitly English as the monument does not exist anywhere else.  The small size of the people shows their lack of power when combined with something as impressive and vast as Stonehenge and the large expanse of grass and rolling sky show natures power.

This image is interesting as it displays the people nestled amongst old columns and depicts the way in which as a nation we value our heritage.  Again the vast scenic landscape is impossible to miss and carries connotations of calm and peace.

Rut Blees Luxemburg
D.O.B- 1967
Place of birth- Germany
Occupation- Photographer

• Luxembourg specialises in night time photography and is commonly known for her city images.
• Her image "Towering Inferno" was used as an album cover for the debut album by "The Streets".
• She uses long exposure to gain better image quart through using only the lights provided by the streets.
• Luxemburg takes a great deal of time when naming her photographs.

This image is interesting due to the way in which the sign for Cockfosters train station can only be seen through it's reflection in the puddle.

The unusual perspective of this image interests me as this canteen high angle shot is not something which is typically associated with landscape photography.  The orange and yellow lighting of the image carries connotations that London never sleeps as there is light in the dead of night.

The framing if this image interests me as it gives the image a somewhat geometric layout due to the rectangular shape of the building and it's windows.  The pollution through both chemicals and light in London are evident in this image as the stars in the sky cannot be seen and the clouds are coated with a yellow or orange glow.

Influence on my work

I would not say that my work was influenced greatly by Simon Roberts however I feel that Rut Blees Luxemburg has influenced be a great deal and has inspired areas of my work.  An example of this is the way that I chose to implement light in my London Landscape shoot.