Henry Fox Talbot: An Oak Tree in Winter

The oak tree is a common symbol of strength and endurance and has been chosen as the national tree of many countries, it is also considered a symbol of knowledge, life and growth. Talbot’s calotype process, unveiled in the early 1840’s, produced a paper negative from which unlimited prints could then be made. This particular study hints at the expressive artistic possibilities of the process, which in only a few years, had developed from being a largely experimental method, to a tool for creating compelling imagery.

William Henry Fox Talbot's ‘An Oak Tree in Winter’ (1842-1843) depicts a large oak tree baring its branches due to the time of year stated in its title. Trees alike surround it fading in to the background. They are much smaller in size, not even reaching half way up the leading oak tree, which takes up the majority of the frame and is the main focal point of the photograph.

Talbot distances him self from the subject, fitting it all into the frame. He positions his camera looking slightly up towards it, enforcing the strength and power of the tree, whilst also giving it dominance over everything else in the photograph. This dominance is also highlighted through the focus and lighting, seeing as the majority falls upon the central tree, resulting in the background trees lack of significance.

Could this possibly symbolize Talbot himself? Him, of course, being a pioneer of photography at this time improving his process to produce shorter exposures and more stable results from the calotype process. While the fading, smaller trees standing behind symbolizing the other experimental photographers who have failed to keep up with Talbot, leaving them insignificant to him in the photographic world.