The dramatic recovery of some of Scotland’s most iconic habitats has been revealed to the public in a new pioneering photographic project.

Using historical photographs which in some cases date back 70 years, NatureScot, the Scottish Government’s environment agency has re-taken the same photos at the same location and at the same time of the year at six of its National Nature Reserves across the Highlands.

The result is a unique time-lapse record of how some of Scotland’s most threatened habitats including Caledonian pine and birch forests together with peat bogs are now recovering thanks to the efforts of conservation managers.

“Even when we are very familiar with an area, it is sometimes difficult to appreciate change, especially when it happens slowly,” explains Ian Sargent, NatureScot’s Nature Reserves Manager for Central Highland.

“Repeat photography allows us a fascinating look back in time and an insight into the dramatic but sometimes unnoticed changes to the landscape down through the years.”

Some of the most striking changes that the time-lapse photography has revealed can be seen at the Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve in the heart of the Scottish Highlands which became a reserve in 1986.

Despite being one of the newest of NatureScot’s reserves, Creag Meagaidh has achieved widespread landscape-scale restoration in a relatively short space of time with a dramatic increase mainly in the number of birch trees but also with other native tree species including alder, rowan and hazel.

Key to the success at Creag Meagaidh and many of the other reserves that feature in the project has been the removal of both sheep from the reserve and the management of the local deer population.

“Red and roe deer are native species and we wanted to keep them so we haven’t used deer fences but instead we cull their numbers to manage them to a sustainable level,” says Sargent.

“Our aim over the years has been to restore nature to allow it to function naturally with minimal intervention on our reserves,” adds Sargent.

“In turn, these nature-rich areas provide many benefits, including increased biodiversity, carbon storage and resilience to climate change.”

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It used to be believed that ‘the camera never lies’ and that photographs captured a true moment in time. However, this has never been entirely accurate. Photographs have always contained an element of construction, and viewing a photograph has never been the same as experiencing the world visually. With the development of ‘photo-realistic’ image manipulation tools such as Adobe Photoshop, and now the emergence of image-generating AI, most of us have come to accept that a photograph is, at best, a representation of reality and not the reality itself.

Algorithmic photography

Alex May’s ‘algorithmic photography’ technique embraces this idea, using computer programming to combine multiple views of a scene over time to produce images that reveal previously hidden patterns and movements.

Unlike timelapse photography, which overlays a sequence of frames without any decision making involved, Alex’s software allows him to select which elements of a frame to combine, enabling him to focus on movement, colour, or any other attributes he thinks will be interesting to include in the final image.

Alex May’s Birds and a drone pass a family posing for a photo in front of Brighton Pavilion, UK (2018)

In the collection of 20 artworks currently on show at BCS Moorgate, you can see vapour trails of pigeons over Brighton Pavilion, the complex patterns of movement within a murmuration of starlings, and the micro highways on a log followed by a nest of ants. In one image, a wind turbine creates a complex abstract artwork and in another a pond of Koi carp takes on an almost painterly quality. All of the images have a crispness that makes you wonder if you are looking at something real or generated — and of course, it is both.

AI and the artistic process

Alex is looking to extend his algorithmic photography technique further with the use of AI image segmentation in the combining process, meaning that he will be able to specify the types of objects that the resulting image will focus on.

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Think blurry photos are artsy? Sure, Gen Z influencers might have you convinced that a grainy snap from a 2000s-era Nikon Coolpix is what’s cool, but if you really want to capture memories that don’t look like pixelated blobs, you need more than a retro camera and some trendy tips. The 2024 Photography Master Class course bundle can help you take photos that aren’t just Insta-worthy but genuinely high-quality.

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Credit: StackSocial

Photography enthusiasts have preferred this art form for a long time and a number of reasons. Its capability to capture moments and memories with just one press of a button and a variety of cameras suitable for both professionals and amateurs has made it a favorite hobby for millions around the globe.

With the rise of smartphones equipped with sophisticated cameras, photography has become even more available to anyone who wants to try out their artistic skills. Not only have smartphones made it possible to create images that are next to professional-quality photos, but they also enabled people to share and exchange photos using online cloud servers and different applications.

Even though this is a thrilling possibility for many photographers out there, nevertheless, it is advisable to use security tools like ExpressVPN for Australia when using apps that store or share your photos online. A virtual private network will help the process of sharing stay safe and defended from any potential threats.

AI technology innovations have created this transformation, making professional-quality photography accessible to all, with all the tools and gear they need right in their pocket.

Features like AI-driven scene recognition, improved lighting effects, and automatic photo enhancements have revolutionized image processing, turning every smartphone user into a potential artist. If you want to try out these tools yourself, here are some of the best applications.

1. Adobe Lightroom Mobile

For those looking to fine-tune their photos with professional-grade tools, Adobe Lightroom Mobile stands out. It offers editing features from basic adjustments like exposure and color correction to advanced edits such as curves and selective color grading. The app also supports Adobe’s Sensei AI to automatically tag and organize photos, making managing large libraries easier.

2. Snapseed

Google’s Snapseed offers an all-inclusive set of editing tools and a user-friendly interface, making it ideal for photographers at all levels. Its unique selling point is the extensive range of filters and the ability to apply effects with precision using the brush tool—perfect for those who want to give their photos a more artistic touch.

3. VSCO

VSCO is not just an app but a community for creatives. Known for its stylish presets and advanced camera controls, VSCO helps users achieve an aesthetic in their photography that is often seen across social media platforms like Instagram. The app also offers video editing, which is a bonus for content creators looking to maintain a uniform style across both photos and videos.

4. Prisma

For those who love to add an artistic feel to their images, Prisma transforms photos into artworks using the styles of famous artists like Van Gogh and Picasso. Applying an interesting combination of neural networks and artificial intelligence, Prisma offers over 300 art styles, making each photo a distinct piece of art.

5. Afterlight

Afterlight is the go-to app for those who prefer straightforward, no-fuss editing tools. It offers a carefully selected collection of natural filters, real film textures, and precise editing tools designed to improve the natural appeal of a photo without overcomplicating the process.

Conclusion

The world of smartphone photography apps is vast and varied, with something available for everyone—from novices seeking to improve their everyday shots to serious photographers aiming to bring professional polish to their mobile images.

AI has significantly improved the ability to create stunning, high-quality photos, making professional photographic techniques accessible with just a few taps on a screen. Whether you’re documenting daily life or creating visual masterpieces, these apps can bring the best of your creative potential.

Known for his portraits of the world’s most famous faces, Danish photographer Marc Holm recently presented his latest exhibition, Re-Framed at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York state. The intention is to challenge the way we experience celebrity photographs from context. The habitat in which twenty-eight of his photographs are installed is anything but ideal for celebrities. Not a white cube, not a lavishly decorated room, but an outdoor park overlooking Lake Otsego, adjoining the museum property. By bringing the portraits outdoors, Marc Holm accomplishes the operation made explicit in the title of the exhibition – re-framed – here understood as the context primarily, but referring also to the viewer’s perception of the portrayed celebrities. From Samuel L. Jackson to Taylor Swift, all the portraits are contained in the book that Holm releases in conjunction with the exhibition with the same title.

The sculptures, if you want to call them that, composed of gigantic frames and equally large prints, look imposing to the viewer who is about a third of their height. In fact, the giant prints are nearly 10 feet tall and are designed to remain here, outdoors, at the mercy of the weather, thus continuing to change their appearance and perception. In fact, the exhibition continues inside the museum and is completed in a more traditional way, also presenting the aforementioned book – Re-Framed – with about eighty of his most iconic portraits. The book will be available from June 20th for online pre-order.

Ode #5, 2023

Chantal Elisabeth Ariëns’ melancholic photographs bring together the strength of our human inner self with its graceful, fragile, physical exterior. The tactility of couture, voile and feathers in her world, inhabited by elegant women, sheds light on our emotional life. There we stand on the threshold between deed and dream in stillness, and desire. With her visual stories, Ariëns is able to depict movement and serenity in the same moment, transporting us to an in-between world where our soul, consciousness and dreams roam

Photograph: Chantal Elisabeth Ariëns/Bildhalle, Zurich & Amsterdam

BLT contemplation

Delaney McQuown says: ‘This photograph is part of my ongoing self-portrait project, urging women to find liberation through unidealised self-images. Excessive self-documentation fosters familiarity, enabling women to exist unapologetically in photos. Capturing myself eating a BLT without inhibition felt fitting, given the complex relationships women often have with their bodies and food. I’m passionate about women embracing their cameras, leading to liberation and self-love.’ Category: Claire Aho award for women photographers

Photograph: Delaney McQuown/Pink Lady FPOTY 2024