June 2024 – Critical Research Journal

Top tips for a visit to a botanic garden…

The photography students and I are visiting the University Botanic Garden this Friday… Some of these tips won’t be feasible for us, but here we go…

Plan Your Visit: Visit the garden at different times of the day to understand the lighting conditions. Early morning or late afternoon provides soft, natural light that enhances colours and reduces harsh shadows.
Research and Explore: Familiarise yourself with the garden layout and notable plants. Knowing where to find unique or rare species can help you plan your shots effectively.
Use a Tripod: A tripod ensures stability, especially in low light conditions or when shooting macro photography. It helps maintain sharpness and allows for longer exposures.
Macro Lens for Close-ups: Use a macro lens to capture the intricate details of flowers and plants. This lens allows you to get close and highlight textures and patterns that might be missed with a standard lens.
Vary Your Perspectives: Experiment with different angles and perspectives. Shoot from ground level to capture the height and structure of plants or from above to show patterns and arrangements.
Pay Attention to Backgrounds: Ensure that the background complements the subject. A cluttered or distracting background can take away from the beauty of the plant. Use a shallow depth of field to blur the background and make your subject stand out.
Use Natural Light: Avoid using flash as it can create unnatural highlights and shadows. Natural light enhances the colours and details of plants, making your photos look more vibrant.
Focus on Composition: Apply basic composition rules like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and symmetry to create balanced and engaging photographs. Look for natural frames like branches or leaves to add depth to your images.
Capture the Seasonal Changes: Botanical gardens change with the seasons. Capture the same location at different times of the year to show the variety and beauty of seasonal transformations.
Respect the Environment: Be mindful of the garden’s rules and avoid disturbing the plants. Stick to designated paths and avoid touching or damaging the plants while setting up your shots.
Incorporate Wildlife: Many botanical gardens are home to birds, insects, and other wildlife. Including these creatures in your photos can add life and interest to your images. Be patient and ready to capture these moments when they occur.
Utilise Reflections and Water Features: Water features like ponds, fountains, or even morning dew can add a unique element to your photographs. Use reflections in water to create symmetry or add a different dimension to your shots.
Post-Processing Techniques: After your shoot, use photo editing software to enhance your images. Adjusting the brightness, contrast, and saturation can help bring out the colours and details. Be mindful not to over-process your photos; aim for a natural look that stays true to what you saw.
Capture the Human Element: Including people in your shots can provide a sense of scale and context. Whether it’s a gardener at work, visitors exploring, or a close-up of hands interacting with plants, the human element can add storytelling depth to your images.
Experiment with Filters and Lenses: Use polarising filters to reduce glare and enhance the colours of the foliage. Try different lenses, such as a wide-angle lens to capture expansive garden scenes or a telephoto lens to isolate distant subjects and compress perspectives.

National Service – nothing to be proud of…?

My grandfather (who was called up in the Second World War and served in the RAF) used to say that doing National Service was not something anyone should be proud of. Why would he believe that? I asked my research assistant and these were the suggestions that they came up with…

“Your grandfather’s perspective on National Service, particularly in the context of his experience during the Second World War, can be understood through several lenses.

“Compulsion vs. Volition: During the Second World War, conscription was mandatory. Many individuals, including your grandfather, were called up to serve without a choice. Being forced into service can lead to a sense of resentment or disillusionment. The pride often associated with military service might stem from a voluntary decision to serve, rather than being compelled by the state.

“Trauma and Hardship: Military service, especially during wartime, can be traumatic. The experiences of combat, witnessing death and destruction, and enduring harsh conditions can leave lasting scars. These experiences might overshadow any sense of pride, leading to a more negative view of the service.

“Political and Moral Ambiguities: The Second World War, despite its portrayal as a ‘just war’ against tyranny, involved significant moral and ethical dilemmas. Bombing campaigns, civilian casualties, and the complexities of post-war geopolitics could contribute to a more critical view of one’s role in the conflict. Your grandfather might have grappled with these complexities and found it difficult to reconcile his service with a sense of pride.

“Post-War Realities: After the war, many veterans returned to a society that struggled to reintegrate them. The transition to civilian life could be challenging, with issues such as unemployment, mental health problems, and a lack of support. These difficulties might colour one’s view of their service.

“Generational and Personal Views: Different generations and individuals hold varied perspectives on military service. Your grandfather might have been part of a cohort that viewed national service as a duty rather than an achievement. Personal experiences, including the context in which he was raised and his personal values, would also shape his views.

“In sum, your grandfather’s belief that National Service was not something to be proud of likely stemmed from a combination of being conscripted rather than volunteering, the traumatic experiences of war, moral and political ambiguities, difficult post-war adjustments, and personal or generational views on military service.”

From what I knew of my grandfather, the loss of his eldest brother in the First World War certainly affected him. That war had fundamentally been a conflict between three cousins’ personal empires – Kaiser Wilhelm II, King George V, and Czar Nicholas II. Each was responding to a need to grow their economies and WW1 was, at least in major part, the consequence. My grandfather had been an active socialist and Unionist by the 1920s, and while he was a public servant throughout his life until his 60s, he had strong anti-monarchy/anti-imperial views. (He refused to accept his Imperial Service Medal from the Queen at Buckingham Palace, insisting that it be awarded to him among his colleagues in Wimbledon Postal Sorting Office.) That National Service was a conscription-based process in the service of what was still an imperial power, I am sure fueled his antipathy towards it. Yes, some people would perform feats of incredible personal daring. However, his brother Percy had done that. (After two years on the front in France as a private and lance corporal, and having survived leading a machine gun unit, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Within four months, it was his job to lead a squad of soldiers up a fortified hill, over the top and into German trenches. He reached the top ahead of his men, as was his job, and was mown down by the machine gun within the trench before his squad could kill them.) I don’t believe my grandfather saw Percy as a ‘hero’ or particularly ‘brave’; I am pretty sure that he saw him as a victim, as a pawn in three grown men’s puerile game of soldiers.

Grandad never spoke to me of pacifism. He had done his duty, though he did it with a particular style of practical cynicism.