As a documentary landscape photographer (primarily) I almost always try and communicate to the viewer the story of and sense of place.
Map regression (the historical / archaeological version, NOT the mathematical one) is a great method that you can employ to first of all understand the place whose story you're telling. It's a wonderful first step, as it arms you with knowledge that you can then use to pick out the right subjects on the ground to tell the story you want to tell.
In this video, I demonstrate how I used the map regression tools at the National Library of Scotland website to understand a piece of wasteland that has intrigued me for years. And how I'm using it to get out and work through it's story.
Link here: maps.nls.uk
The tools I demonstrate do contain some maps from outside Scotland and the rest of the UK; however it's far from comprehensive, so you might have to apply the knowledge you gain here to your own local resources. Be that online, or simply using old physical maps.
If you find other resources that people might find useful for your own area, please post them below. It will probably help someone down the line.
*Quick note: the images in this video, aren’t quite there yet. Too HDR-ey for my tastes, so please don’t think they’re the finished article. The detail from my “new” Sigma DP Quattro cameras is outstanding, but the files take some learning to understand how to get the best from them. I’m fine with that. Once I’m happy with them (they’ll form part of my end of term MA project) I’ll post a link up here).*
Video notes: video image quality, I’m so much more happy with it than in the last video. I’m not sure where the fluctuating exposure indoors is coming from. I must have left it on auto ISO by accident, maybe. The Picture in Picture is a bit slapdash, but I only have so much time to get things done, with the MA as well. I’ll refine it. Better done than perfect.
Need to hone in on consistency in terms of what I add in in the edit. Things like the little boxes and arrows, font choices. I’m getting there though. And sound is so much better than I’ve had in the past. Progress!