This dramatic black and white photograph is taken from the unusual vantage of the foot of a tree up into neighbouring branches and into the sky above. It is part of an untitled series of images which explore the Welsh landscape, that Paul Joyce began in the summer of 1976. In his simple, pared-down images, Joyce draws attention to the changing seasons and the time of day. His concern is with the fundamental elements of the earth, namely sea, sky and land. In forcing us to confront the bare elements of the landscape, we are encouraged to ponder just how small and inconsequential we are when matched against the vastness of nature. The impersonal composition of the images – the fact that we are not aware of the photographer’s presence or his viewpoint when taking these photographs – further reinforces the idea that landscape has the power to dwarf and overwhelm human presence. Joyce has a background in television, making documentary and feature films, but has said that he finds still photography the most expressive and personal medium to work in.
The 365 steps referred to in the title lead to the Eagle’s Nest viewing point of the Wye Valley, overlooking the Gothic ruins of Tintern Abbey on one side and, on a clear day, across the Severn Bridge to England.
