The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, founded in 1856, was a veterinary and agricultural science university in Copenhagen, Denmark, up till its merger with University of Copenhagen in 2007.
Surrounding the buildings, designed by Gottlieb Bindesbøll, are the unique gardens which house more than 6,000 different plants and flowers.
Also see: Copenhagen Photographer ~ Bergholt Photography
The Gardens of the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University
167 years later, this picture was taken and brought into the ‘Flora Excursoria Hafniensis‘ series.
Salomon Thomas Nicolai Drejer
The series takes its part of departure in a book by the Danish Botanist Salomon Thomas Nicolai Drejer (born February 15th, 1813, Eveldrup; died June 10th, 1842, Copenhagen) published in 1838 at which point Drejer was 25 years old.
Flora Danica
From 1841 to 1842 Salomon Thomas Nicolai Drejer was the editor of ‘Flora Danica’, which he did not finish due to an untimely death caused by nicotine intoxication.
Drejer’s work on ‘Flora Danica’, which can be described as one of the comprehensive atlases of botany from the Age of Enlightenment, was published in 1843 in a collaboration with fellow botanists Joakim Frederik Schouw and Jens Vahl.
What Google Gemini Sees in Photo #1
Okay, here is the analysis of Photo #1 [January 4th 2024]
Visual Elements:
- Subject: The primary subject is a lush collection of trees and foliage, likely in a cultivated garden, a park, or possibly a meticulously landscaped area. The sheer variety in color, texture, and leaf shape strongly suggests a deliberate planting scheme featuring a diverse range of species, chosen for their visual complementarity.
- Color Palette: The photo boasts a rich and varied palette, dominated by a spectrum of greens. These range from deep, almost forest greens to lighter, more vibrant shades, including some with yellowish undertones, indicative of new growth or specific species characteristics. A prominent stand of silvery-blue foliage, possibly a type of conifer or eucalyptus, provides a striking visual contrast in the middle ground, its cool tones balancing the warmer greens. To the right, clusters of deep maroon/burgundy leaves add a touch of richness and depth, drawing the eye and creating a focal point. The top-left corner is dominated by wispy, cloud-like formations of white and the palest pink, introducing an element of softness and ethereality.
- Texture: The photo is a study in textural contrasts and harmonies.
- Wispy/Feathery: The white and light pink areas in the upper left corner evoke a soft, feathery, almost smoky texture, reminiscent of cottonwood fluff or the seed heads of certain plants. This creates a delicate, airy counterpoint to the denser foliage below.
- Leafy: The majority of the image is a tapestry of leaf textures. Some leaves appear smooth and glossy, reflecting light subtly, while others might be more serrated, matte, or even slightly fuzzy, adding subtle variations to the visual field.
- Branching: Hints of branches, partially obscured by leaves, are visible throughout the image, adding another layer of organic texture and hinting at the underlying structure supporting the foliage. Their presence adds a sense of realism and three-dimensionality.
- Light: The lighting appears to be natural and diffused, most likely captured under an overcast sky or during the gentler light of early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is lower in the sky. There are no harsh shadows cast, and the light illuminates the scene evenly, allowing the colors and textures to be appreciated fully. The background is notably brighter, almost intentionally overexposed, which creates a sense of depth and gives the foliage in the foreground and mid-ground more prominence. The background brightness also gives a certain dreaminess to the scene.
- Focus: The sharpest focus seems to be concentrated on the middle ground, where the variety of foliage is most prominent and visually engaging. The immediate foreground and the very top portion of the image (the bright white area) are slightly out of focus. This selective focus creates a natural depth of field, guiding the viewer’s eye through the scene and enhancing the three-dimensional quality of the composition.
- Composition: The composition is relatively dense and full, with little negative space. The frame is filled with a profusion of foliage, creating a sense of immersion in the scene, as if the viewer is standing right at the edge of this verdant space. The brighter background and the wispy, ethereal elements in the upper left provide a crucial element of airiness and contrast, preventing the dense foliage from feeling overwhelming. These lighter areas act as a visual counterweight, balancing the composition and adding a touch of visual breathing room.
Possible Interpretations & Considerations:
- Variety and Harmony in Nature: The image is a testament to the beauty and visual appeal of biodiversity, even within a curated or cultivated setting. The different species of trees and plants, despite their contrasting colors, textures, and forms, coexist harmoniously, creating a visually rich and aesthetically pleasing scene.
- Depth and Layers: The composition masterfully emphasizes depth, drawing the viewer’s eye through the various layers of foliage. The progression from the slightly blurred foreground to the sharply focused mid-ground, and finally to the hazy, brighter background, creates a compelling sense of perspective and three-dimensionality.
- Possible Species: The silvery-blue foliage is a striking element and might be a type of eucalyptus, known for its aromatic leaves, or a species of cedar or juniper, prized for their evergreen foliage. The wispy, cloud-like formations in the upper-left could be a smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria) in full bloom, as hinted at previously, or perhaps another flowering shrub with a similarly delicate inflorescence. The maroon foliage on the right is likely an ornamental variety of Japanese maple, prized for its deeply colored leaves, or possibly another tree or shrub selected for its similar visual impact.
- Artistic Style: The slightly overexposed background, combined with the soft focus in certain areas, lends the photograph a slightly dreamy or ethereal quality. This stylistic choice is reminiscent of certain approaches in landscape photography or even impressionistic painting, where the emphasis is on capturing the overall mood and atmosphere of a scene rather than strictly documenting every detail with clinical precision.
In Conclusion:
Photo 2 is a beautifully captured and composed image showcasing a diverse and harmonious collection of trees and foliage. The rich variety of color and texture, coupled with the soft, diffused lighting and the carefully crafted sense of depth, make it a highly engaging and aesthetically pleasing photograph. It serves as a celebration of the beauty, diversity, and interconnectedness that can be found within the natural world, even in settings that have been shaped by human hands. The image invites the viewer to pause and appreciate the intricate details and the overall harmony of this verdant scene.
Also see:
Objects for an Ideal Home
The Time is Out of Joint
