Home

10%

PERSPECTIVES

A bird’s-eye view of landscapes

By The IK Foundation

March 30^th, 2021

Ever since ancient times, people and animals have been curious to reach higher located sites in their landscape – from a block, to a hill or a mountain where they could get an overview and see the context! This curiosity became even greater when man began to fly, first by balloons and later by aircraft, at the same time as photo technology was developed in the 19th century.

This story should be seen as an inspiring overview covering more than seventy years of aerial pictures of the same photographed landscapes in southernmost Sweden. A work that in 2021 is celebrated with a collaboration between The IK Foundation and The Swedish National Archives (Riksarkivet).

FLYING DREAMS

From an altitude of 3480 metres on 9 August 1893, engineer August Salomon Andrée photographed this snapshot of a passage to open sea via Stockholm archipelago, One of Sweden's first aerial photographs created in a spirit of technological innovation in photography, aeronautics and curiosity. The balloonist was so proud that he dedicated this picture to his beloved sister Jenny.

This dream of being able to fly and see a landscape from the air had already been exploited in cartography as well as in the world of art, aerial landscape art was first created by indigenous peoples. Natural landscapes and the increasing settlements later on attracted artists to capture a landscape from a bird’s-eye view.

In the early 20th century, aerial photography primarily was in use for military reconnaissance and mapping, which evolved in pace with technical capabilities of aeroplanes. In 1923, the English archaeologist and pilot, Osbert G S Crawford gave a lecture at The Royal Geographical Society at Kensington Gore in London. This was the very first time as aerial photographs with an archaeological connection were on display, since then Crawford is seen as the father of scientific aerial photography.

Interpretation of aerial photographs is very much a multidisciplinary work depending on which trained ”eye” that studies the picture – it may be detected and interpreted differently. For example, the archaeologist see burial grounds and settlements partly hidden by later cultivations, while the historian sees the forgotten roads and the connection between a church and where such a building is located in the landscape. The geographer determines the cultural and economic changes of an area, while the geological formations are studied by the geologist. The quaternary geologists and biologists are looking for flora and fauna habitats, the ecologist and environmental historian can study population distributions, pollutions and the human consuming of natural resources. The list of what an aerial photograph may be used to can be long – purely human creativity and technological resources limit the development!

HAVING EYES DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN SEE

"HAVING EYES DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN SEE" once wrote the Russian author and noble price winner Alexander Solsjenitsyn, something that can also be said about how people see different "things" in an aerial picture, or at worst nothing at all!

These two picture examples are interesting, they are both photographed in the 1960s by one of Sweden's modern pioneers in scientific aerial photography, major and archaeologist Esse Ericsson.

SOMETHING ABOUT TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY

Surely there have never before been so many alternatives to study landscapes from the perspective of a bird's eye. In the field, smaller aircraft can be used that can fly in a relatively low altitude below 500 meters. For the more classic enthusiast, hot air balloons of various kinds are other options. However, the most economical and easiest to use in the field is a drone, which are available from smaller variants to larger models for professional users. These can be equipped not only with cameras, but also with other types of measuring devices that can be of great use in the analysis work.

For the desktop researcher, however, there are a large number of other possibilities. Local knowledge of an area is the key to success in analysing aerial pictures. Tools such as different types of maps, preferably spread over extended time periods often provide a solid foundation to stand on. Due to digital technology and the Internet there are basically a few button presses from endless archives of pictures photographed from space, maps and underlying surveying aerial pictures alike.

Either way – whether you work in the field or in your study – the best is a combination of both! Together with the frequent repeated aerial photography of selected landscapes during different seasons and times of the chosen day, as well as whether you have the opportunity to experiment with varied camera technologies, such as different types of filters, shutter speed, lenses and "film types” (colour, b/w, Infrared…). Finally, don't forget that there is a lot of data in an image, the "darkroom work" – nowadays often digitally made, which can extract a lot of non-visible information!

Aerial pictures can be poetically beautiful, but also technologically advanced. This black and white photograph reveals an ancient stone wall, photographed in oblique light over a forest during the leaf-free season. Aerial photography as a science requires a multidisciplinary eye to perform and interpret! A fascinating source for everyone interested in Natural and Cultural History.

Another example of combined work, in the field equally as in an indoor study. The top picture shows a square-built cold stone wall, possibly a so-called planting paddock from the time when you had free grazing animals that you fenced out, instead of fenced in - to protect what you planted. The same square is included in older maps over the area. If you study digital satellite images, you will find similar examples of planting paddocks elsewhere which may even still be in use, through comparisons you build up a unique eye for image interpretation – the possibilities are endless!

SOME IDEAS ABOUT THE USE OF AERIAL PICTURES

To see a landscape from above is often a transformative experience, for both young and old! The general aim for those who work with it professionally is often to find something new to marvel at. Images can be beautiful, but also less beautiful – even so valuable information may often still be possible to come across!

Below images should be seen as an inspiration on how to use aerial pictures, especially if you are interested in Natural & Cultural History.

ANCIENT MONUMENTS

INDUSTRIAL HISTORY

OLD BUILDINGS & LANDSCAPES

EMISSIONS & IMPACTS

WATER LANDSCAPES

URBANISM

EARTH SCIENCE

HIDDEN TRACKS

FARMERS' LANDSCAPE

A REFERENCE ARCHIVE

The beginning of a new era

Since the 1980s, The IK Foundation has worked with aerial pictures in a large number of research projects as well as the development of methodology for aerial pictures in natural and cultural history. Through the takeover of early pioneering work (1988) on the subject (Esse Ericsson's Aerial Picture Archive) equally as more recent work/archives by Putte Hallberg and Lars Hansen, "The IK Foundation Collection of Aerial Pictures" spans about 70 years of aerial pictures with a special focus on the southernmost provinces in Sweden.

Through an early collaboration with, among others, the Erna & Viktor Hasselblad Foundation, development, publication and exhibitions of the collection have taken place. Since 2019 IK, in collaboration with the Thora Ohlsson Foundation, has carried out a digitisation of the collection and opened a dedicated department within The IK Workshop Society called iBirdsEye, an open resource for the development of the subject in an interdisciplinary spirit.

The physical archival material – which in addition to pictures also consists of writings, maps, notes, research papers, etc. – was donated during March 2021 by The IK Foundation to The Swedish National Archives (Riksarkivet).

The IK Foundation has chosen this cooperation due to that The Swedish National Archives is one of the country's oldest public authorities. The National Archives collect and secure records to preserve them for future generations, as part of the common national heritage.

The donation is the beginning of a new era for the material and the subject! The physical archive is given long-term care, whilst the digital material with thousands of pictures is already freely available which will inspire new knowledge, new technology and opportunities – a donation for inspiration to understand various landscapes' Natural & Cultural History. This is an exciting collaboration between The IK Foundation and The Swedish National Archives.

The iBIRDSEYE is a division of The IK Workshop Society - a global and unique forum for all those who are interested in Natural & Cultural History from a bird’s-eye view.

EXPLORE MORE AT iBIRDSEYE

IDEA & TEXT BY

LARS HANSEN

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO

SOURCES OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Pictures by The IK Foundation, London (unless stated otherwise, shown within brackets).

PERSPECTIVES – A bird’s-eye view of landscapes

Farmland Ravlunda, Skåne, Sweden. - with plantations and prehistoric remains. Experimentally photographed with infrared film. ID: LH.0338

FLYING DREAMS

Sweden, Baltic Sea, Denmark etc (Astronaut photo, International Space Station, NASA. Nasa Photo ID: ISS059-E-121409).

Stockholm archipelago by August Salomon Andrée (Grenna Museum - Andréexpeditionen Polarcenter. ID: gm.saaa2.43).

A bird’s-eye view of a country house and the surrounding landscape. English school, early 18th century, unknown artist (Private owner).

Over forest and lake, Sweden, by Otto Hesselbom, 1908 (Nationalmuseum. ID: 4109).

HAVING EYES DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN SEE

Trelleborg harbour with car import, Sweden. ID: EE.1884.

Helsingborg harbour, Sweden. ID: EE.1224.

Kvidinge, Sweden. ID: EE.0950.

SOMETHING ABOUT TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY

Map ”Topografiska Corpsens karta över Sverige 1860. Öfversedd 1875”.

Hovdala, Sweden. ID: EE.0193

Eskilstorp, salt marsh landscape in the southern part of the Öresund, between Hammarsnäs to Tygelsjö meadows in Southwest Skåne, Sweden. ID: EE.1887, EE.1907, LH.0163, LH.0614 (and Apple Maps).

[Collage] 1: Stenestad, Sweden. ID: EE.1849. 2: Map ”Skånska Rekognosceringskartan. Framställd av Fältmätningsbrigaden 1812-1820”, Sweden. 3: Saltholm, Denmark (Apple Maps).

SOME IDEAS ABOUT THE USE OF AERIAL PICTURES

Billesholm-Ekeby, burning of straw, Sweden. ID: PH.0095.

ANCIENT MONUMENTSKåseberga, Sweden. ID: LH.0457. Vitaby, Sweden. ID: LH.0629. Vitaby, Sweden. ID: LH.0195. Haväng, Sweden. ID: PH.0152 and Kivik, Sweden. ID: EE.0820.

INDUSTRIAL HISTORY Nyvång coal mine, Sweden. ID: EE.0893. Landskrona ship yard, Sweden. ID: EE.1598. Malmö harbour, Kockum ship yard, Sweden. ID: EE.1731 and Andrarum, slag mounds, Sweden. ID: LH.0293.

OLD BUILDINGS & LANDSCAPES Vrams-Gunnarstorp, Sweden. ID: EE.1106. Landskrona, Sweden. ID: EE:1597. Glimmingehus and surrounding lanscape, Sweden. ID: LH.0311 and Wittskövle, Sweden. ID: LH.0717.

EMISSIONS & IMPACTS Limhamn cement factory, Sweden. ID: EE.1730. Landskrona harbour ”gypsum mountain”, Sweden ID: PH.0313. Örtofta sugar mill, Sweden. ID: EE.1148. Surface ming, Skåne, Sweden. ID: LH.0395 and Höganäs, manufacturer of powdered metals, Sweden. ID: PH.1317.

WATER LANDSCAPES Gislövshammar, Sweden. ID: LH.0448. Måkläppen, Sweden. ID: MISC.0006. Kullen peninsula, fishing nets, Sweden. ID: PH.0073. Gyllebo, Sweden. ID: LH.0686 and Barsebäck, Lödde kar, Sweden. ID: PH.0110.

URBANISM Helsingborg, Sweden. ID: EE.1214. Lund, Sweden. ID: EE.1699. Malmö, Sweden. ID: 1726 and Landskrona, Sweden. ID: PH.0132.

EARTH SCIENCE Stenshuvud, Sweden. ID: LH.0737. Hammarsnäs to Tygelsjö meadows in Southwest Skåne, Sweden. ID: LH.0146. Kullaberg, Sweden. ID: PH.0079. Odensjön, Sweden. ID: EE.1809 and Klingälvsån, Sweden. ID: LH.0222.

HIDDEN TRACKS Ystad, Revnäbbet, Sweden. ID: LH.0608. Stallbackarna, Skanör/Falsterbo, Sweden. ID: EE:1939. Haväng/Hanöbukten, Sweden. ID: LH. 0061 and Göingeholm, Sweden. ID: EE.0213.

FARMERS’ LANDSCAPE Bjuv, Sweden. ID: EE. 1085. Härslöv, Sweden. ID: EE.1561. St Köpinge, Sweden. ID: EE.2072 and Villands-Vånga, Sweden. ID: EE.0739.