Statement of Intent
For this project, I intend to explore the relationship between humans and large cityscape environments, focusing on how scale can visually and conceptually diminish the individual. I am particularly interested in cities such as New York and London, where architecture dominates the skyline and creates a sense of vertical power. I want to investigate how the size, height and density of buildings can make people appear small, isolated or insignificant within the frame.
My project will explore scale as a representation of power, control and modern systems. Cities are constructed environments designed for efficiency, business and growth, and I want to question how the individual fits within these structures. By placing a single human figure within vast architectural spaces, I aim to emphasise the contrast between the evanescence of the human body and the permanence and dominance of industrial structures.
Visually, I plan to experiment with low-angle shots to exaggerate the height of skyscrapers and make them appear imposing. I will also use high vantage points to reduce the human figure further, showing how easily people can disappear within the urban landscape. Wide-angle lenses will allow me to capture more of the surrounding space, increasing the sense of scale and negative space. I am particularly interested in using strong leading lines, repetition of windows or structures, and areas of shadow to guide the viewer’s eye and emphasise the overwhelming nature of the environment.
I may experiment with black and white photography to focus on contrast, form and structure rather than colour, as this could make the architectural elements feel more dominant and timeless. Alternatively, I might use artificial city lighting at night to create atmosphere and highlight the density of the city.
Overall, my intention is to create a series of images that communicate how modern industrial cities can visually overpower the individual. Through composition, perspective and subject placement, I want to explore themes of insignificance, power, hierarchy and the human presence within environments that feel much larger than ourselves.
Scale is the relative size of one object in comparison to another, used in art and photography to show proportion, importance, and the relationship between subjects within a space.
Initial Ideas
