footage

When i initially started to put my video together i was messing around with both still images and video clips. At first i wanted it to consist of both video and images alternating between the two, but as i have started to piece the video together, swapping and changing sections of the video I have found that the till images don't work as well as video.  I have shot numerous clips with small durations exploring the mistreated things within the environment. I have gone back to looking at the rubbish and things that are left lying around and not disposed of in the correct way, thus polluting the environment a little more each day!

Research...

Over the past few weeks i have been researching into how the environment and how the places that we live in can cause us to be or act in certain ways or live a certain lifestyle.

Like i have mentioned previously one of the most interacting things that i have found is that as little as 3 minutes a day can alter someones mood and way of thinking. It is natural for us, as humans to seek areas that have certain qualities to them - areas that are better taken care of and look nicer and cleaner.

"Just like a mirror, what you do in the outside will affect what happens to you in the inside."

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/473256

"What about stress?

Perhaps most importantly for health, the environment can create or reduce stress, which in turn impacts our bodies in multiple ways. This is because our brain and our nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are constantly interacting. As neuroscientist Candice Pert puts it, "What you are thinking at any moment is changing your biochemistry."
Thus, the stress of a noisy, confusing hospital room might result in a patient not only feeling worried, sad, or helpless, but experiencing higher blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension. In addition, hormones released in response to the emotional stress could suppress the patient's immune system, causing his wounds to heal more slowly.
Stress is an important medical consideration, and creating an environment that reduces stress is a key piece of improving health outcomes."

 (http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/healing-environment/what-impact-does-environment-have-us)


Similarly, in an article that I came across this morning it stated that being amongst nature is something that is very good for us as humans, we need that time spend with nature to help us feel more at home with ourselves.

Another thing that is important to know about the environment and the areas in which we live in is they can drastically affect out health and lifestyle. If you live somewhere that is well build up and industrialized you are at risk from the pollution that is in the air, your life span can be dramatically altered by the type of lifestyle that you have.

"Outdoor Air Quality -
Poor air quality is linked to premature death, cancer, and long-term damage to respiratory and cardiovascular systems. "

"Why Is Environmental Health Important?

Maintaining a healthy environment is central to increasing quality of life and years of healthy life. Globally, nearly 25 percent of all deaths and the total disease burden can be attributed to environmental factors.1 Environmental factors are diverse and far reaching. They include:

• Exposure to hazardous substances in the air, water, soil, and food
• Natural and technological disasters
• Physical hazards
• Nutritional deficiencies
• The built environment

Poor environmental quality has its greatest impact on people whose health status is already at risk. Therefore, environmental health must address the societal and environmental factors that increase the likelihood of exposure and disease."

(http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=12)


We are a lot more at risk today than people were a few hundred years ago, mainly due to the amount of chemicals and things that are now being used on a daily basis that are causing pollution.

People don't seem to realise the effect that the environment has on our health, i don't think that many people look at it in that way, they just pass it by everyday and don't really give it a thought. In some respects i do the same thing, i look around me and think that it is all normal, this is where i live and it is what it is. But that is not really the case - which it the whole intention of this video. 

Having just read something on my local councils website I am a little bit mislead as to what their intention is with the natural environment, they have written about them taking full care of the local areas and making sure that people get fined and such for littering and vandalizing but this is not something that i have ever seen taken place around my area, in fact it really seems like they just don't care about this areas purely because it is not central. But that shouldn't be the case they should be caring for all of the borough and not just the area that they feel need or should get the most attention or all of the attention.  People still have to live in these areas and they are becoming polluted due to what is going on and the fact that the area is not taken care of it is starting to become really run down and very unattractive to look at, i dislike seeing what i see everyday and this is the area in which i have to live, it should be taken care of rather that mistreated.

Direction!?

Over the past few days, after a discussion with my tutor I have though a lot about what the best direction would be for this project.

I have the two different options that I have mentioned within this blog, one where I focus in on the not so good things within the environment that annoy me and arent so nice, or focusing in on the good and better things that are surrounding us.

After much though I have decided to go back to the first option of the things that annoy me, rather than focus this video around litter and things like that I have based it around one area that is massively over grown and a mess, a public place that is council owned and should be looked after yet it is no longer treated with any respect, it is a part of this local area and the environment, the environment is fundamental to living so why cant they just care for it.

A big influence!?

Ansel Adams is a photographer that I have taken a lot of inspiration from, I always find myself linking back to his work and my main interest lies with nature and landscape photography, and I have a keen interest in showing people the beauty of the landscape and the things that are out there to be seen if you take the time to explore- similar to that of Adams.

I feel that this is my main intention with the project. I want to produce something that shows people what there is out there to be seen - nature and landscape based. To show them the natural beauty that is there right in front of them and if they took the time to they could experience it for themselves.

I have said previously that it is proven that spending time amongst nature is better for you health, this is something that got backed up whilst i was reading and article online (http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/healing-environment/what-impact-does-environment-have-us). This article stated thats spending as little at three minutes with contact to nature and have an impact on your emotions, reduce stress, anger and fear and boost the pleasant and good feelings that we have.

Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams is most commonly known for his photographs of landscapes, especially of landscapes within national parks. His photographs are all about getting people to see the natural beauty within the landscape, and to show people what there is out there to be explored.

Edward Burtynsky

 

Burtynsky is most commonly known for his photographs focusing on large industrial sites around the world. He manages to capture really interesting images that create such an impact on people. The photographs of industrial sites show how the different areas are being used for different things, these areas can be quite run down and a bit of a mess which in turn shows a little bit of the effects they are having on the environment and the surrounding areas.

John Davis

John Davis is known for his photographs that explore industrialisation of places. He takes on long term projects where he goes and photographs different locations to show how specific areas have become industrialised and built up.

This is kind of a link to what I am saying about the health and lifestyle of people, if you live in a well built up and industrialised area, you are more prone to illnesses and things like that, this is another reason why the natural beauty of the world and landscape is important. If areas weren't being built up and over populised than people would be automatically living better.