Fay Godwin

By Aahil Mukadam
 Fay Godwin
KEY important facts:

● Only started photography when she was 35

● Used her Photos to shed light on important environmental issues

PHOTOGRAPHER’S GENRE: Black and white landscape photographer

DOB: February 17th, 1931 - May 27th 2005

Where born (nationality?): Born in Berlin

Photographer
Where the person lives and works now: Lived in England (primarily london) for most of her life

What equipment does this photographer use and why: Used two different Cameras, Hasselblad 500cm and a Leica M6 both
fitted with specific lenses. The Hasselblad camera was used to take square shots and she used it to take many large ares
landscape (the square shape made the viewer focus on the subject evenly).

Accomplishments: Fay Godwin has many awards and pieces of her work displayed in england and throughout the rest of the UK.
Some of which include, Honorary fellowship of the Royal Photographic society, Northern Arts Award for visual Arts and an
honorary fellowship of architects in Scotland

Family: Had a Husband named Tony and Two sons named Jeremy and Nicholas

Societal Goals: As socialist and avid environmentalist, Fay Godwin always attempted to photograph her environment in such
way to shed light on the mark humanity has left on a certain area whether that be positive or negative. Her use of contrast and
light to emphasize certain areas of a landscape were primarily used to show humanities negative effects on the world we live in.

https://www.onlandscape.co.uk/2011/01/master-photographer-fay-godwin/
 Fay Godwin Artworks #1

Photo Name: Flooded Tree Photo Name: Heptonstall

Location: Derwentwater Location: Yorkshire

Date: 1981 Date: 1978

https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/what-was-on/fay-godwin-l
and-revisited
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/what-was-on/fay-godwin-l
and-revisited
 Fay Godwin Artworks #2

Photo Name: Large White Photo Name: Single Stone

Cloud Near Bilsington
Location: Ring of Brodgar,
Location: Kent Orkney

Date: 1981 Date: 1979

https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/what-was-on/fay-godwin-l
and-revisited
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/what-was-on/fay-godwin-l
and-revisited
Principles and Elements of
Design
 Initial Reaction

My initial reaction to this video is one of curiosity. The building

seeming placed on the edge of the forest has a gloomy aura and it’s
prence seems to darken the foreground, while everything behind is
illuminated to a significant degree. The use of lighting in the photo
leads me to believe that the foreground and beyond that are all being
affected by the pillbox but the background isn’t and the tone of image
becomes increasing split the longer I look at it. I get a sense of time
when looking at this photo as if the foreground is the past being
affected by the pillboxes shadow which could represent the present
and the light in the background being the future.
Photo Name: Pillbox Near
Appledore

Location: Royal Military

Canal

Date: 1977
 Description

In this photograph you can instantly see the difference from the fore,
mid and background, with light white of long grass in the front and just
behind it a tree and geometric figure. These items can all be seen in
front of two large clouds with the blue sky in between them. Due to the
picture being in black and white we can only assume the exact shade
and color this landscape actually is.

Photo Name: Top Withens

Location: N/A

Date: 1977
 Analysis

This photo includes many elements and principles of designs and uses
them effectively to create an interesting and intriguing photo. One of
the most prominent elements used in this image is value and its
through the trees in which we see this being used. The focus of the
image is the house but the dark shadowy trees give us a sense of
incompletion. The dark value of the trees is used extremely well to
show what humans prioritize (house being well lit while trees being
dark.) Not only do trees showcase great use of value but also shape. As
the natural organic shapes created by the branches and leaves contrast
nicely with the straight, geometric shapes of the house.

Photo Name: Haworth

Parsonage

Location: N/A

Date: 1977
 Cultural Context

The Cultural Context if this image is focusing on the environment and

how we treat our home planet. Our eyes immediately drift towards the
car showing us an example of the waste in which we dump into the
earth. Once you have witnessed the car you begin to see the ruble and
trash scattered around and in the background you see the a large
amount of trees. With some interpretation this could be viewed as a
way of showing us how our earth was previously.

Photo Name: Rotting Car

Location: Cliffe Lagoon

Date: 1982
 Interpretation

When I look at this photo and it’s title “Chimney and Ferns” my mind
jumps to Human’s impact on the environment and how the entirety of
the world has been effected through our coexistence with nature.
When first looked at you can see plants and trees surrounding the
chimney have begun to shape themselves around the tree. I believe Fay
Godwin was attempting to suggest that nature is always the side
adjusting and that humans haven’t done enough to change for the
environment.

Photo Name: Chimney and

Ferns

Location: Lumb Valley

Date: 1977
 Informed Point of View

I don't believe this image is successful in delivering a clear message and

doesn’t use enough techniques to make the viewer interested and
invested. One problem I believe it faces is its lack of focus. Due to the
black and white nature of the image it is difficult to separate some of
the mid and background from one another. The context of the image is
a little unknown as there is no clear subliminal messaging.

Photo Name: Farm

Buildings

Location: Bonnytown

Date: 1980
Fay Godwin Photography
Photo of one of their most recognizable
photographs
Key facts about what equipment they used, particular
settings, subject matter, etc.
● Location: West Yorkshire
● Name: Paved Path Above Lumbuttus
● Encapsulates what Fay Godwin
● Hasselblad 500cm
● Camera was used to create square image
Why was this a famous or recognizable photograph?
This Photo’s world renown presence stems once again from the excellent
choice of lighting, perspective and the scene itself. The photo is taken as if we
are viewing the landscape from the top ourselves
How does it best represent the style or message of your
photographer?
This image is one of the best in showcasing Fay Godwin's true photographic
purpose which was to shed light on how us as humans affect the
environment. In this image we can clearly see the rolling hills stretching over
a large distance but we also see the patterns and lines marked by humans and
how the environment and humans interacting with one has done to the earth.
This photo isn’t necessarily trying to make you feel negative or positive
towards but more so to understand that whether we like it or not humanities
actions affect the earth in significant ways.
Video and 5 key facts
5 key facts about your photographer’s time period in which they
worked (dates, era, type of photography equipment available at
that time, etc.)

1. The first digital camera was introduced in 1975 by steven

sasson
2. Photoshop was introduced in 1987 by the Knoll Brothers
late bought by Adobe
3. Color photography first hit market around the 1930’s
4. Even after the introduction of color photography many
photographers such as Fay Godwin chose to stay with
balck and white as it focused on the story
5. 35mm format photography was introduced in 1925 by
Leica
 Add names (and artworks- no more than 2) under
photos of other photographers who worked in
that time period.
Photo Name: Between
Photo Name: Pigeon second and railyard

Location: New Orleans Location: N/A

Date: 1975 Date: N/A

Photographer: Linda Photographer: Susan

Mccartney Mikula

https://www.lindamccartney.com/ http://www.susanmikula.com/
 Elements and Principles of Design
Choose ONE PHOTO of a recognizable or
the most interesting photograph, in your
opinion. Place a photo of that work here.
This photograph uses the principle of movement
to direct how you view this image. Your eye is
immediately drawn to the have sunken bridge as
it is the only geometric figure in the photo. Your
eyes them moved the eroded land in the
foreground and slowly shift throughout the rest of
the image. The control and use of movement is
excellent in this photo as it uses shape to control
how the story of this photo is told.
 Reflect on what you have learned by answering these questions in full sentences.

One surprising fact I learned about this photographer was… that she only started taking
photographs when she was 35. This surprised since she was able to make such a difference in a
relatively short amount of time

I found this photographer interesting because… she specialized in square photos. Most people
would look to her use of black and white but I found it incredibly interesting for her to use an
equal width and length for all her images. Aforementioned, she used this shape in order to keep an
even focus on the entire image rather than just

I understand more about… the use of black and white photography as Fay Godwin used it’s
strengths of sharp and precise images to focus on the context of the landscapes themselves
rather than the color they display. Further emphasising the impact of a certain scene.

I still want to know… if black and white photography would still be used by Fay Godwin today or if
should would have experimented with other forms in a search for a new way to spread her
messages of social justice.
https://wotfoto.com/photographers/fay-godwin
http://visualarts.britishcouncil.org/exhibitions/exhibition/fay-godwin-landscape-photographs-1984
https://www.onlandscape.co.uk/2011/01/master-photographer-fay-godwin/
https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/technique/fay-godwin-1931-2005-iconic-photographer-1890
7
https://www.fotographee.com/66-fun-facts-photography/