Robert Adams three ‘verities’

Robert Adams says in his essay “Truth in Landscape” that landscape photography offers us three verities: geography, autobiography and metaphor.[1] He proposes that the artist must be a geographical mediator to help the viewer discover the meaning of a place. I have been exploring these verities in relation to my own photography as part of my ongoing research project on light pollution in Singapore.

Fig.1: Davies 2022. In Search of Dark Skies, No. 28.

In Fig. 1, we have geography - showing the border of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, one of the few areas of primary rain forest left in the country. 

We have autobiography - this was taken late at night on a dérive close to the reserve as I was seeking isolation and refuse from the relentless distractions of the city. 

And we have metaphor - the image has an ominous silence and foreboding presence. The separation of subject from the photographer suggests a detachment from nature, a forest in retreat yet standing in defiance against the glare of the city. The trees almost appear to be going up in flames like columns of smoke foretelling their destruction in the conflict between nature and humanity.

[1] ADAMS, Robert. 1996. Beauty in Photography. New York: Aperture.