I’ve been thinking a lot about maps recently. Here’s a post gathering my thoughts on the subject. Subscribe or get in touch if you’d like more of this kind of post!
I’ve had an interest in maps for as long as I can remember, perhaps beginning with my first read of the Hobbit.
I’ll have to dig out my own copies of Tolkien’s works to photograph the maps in them!
One of the best things about fantasy maps are the evocative place names, small notes and in the case above, a created language and the simple yet expressive sketch of the lonely mountain.
Place names can be a great source of expanding your knowledge of the local area, for example, over lockdown, we explored a local, previously unknown to us wood called Dogloitch Wood.
I haven’t been able to find the meaning of Dogloitch via a cursory search, If any readers have any idea please get in touch!
Dogloitch Wood has a different feel to Dum Wood. It takes a little more effort to reach and it sits in isolation. Suburbia does not exist when you enter Dogloitch, and the woods seem to know it! You feel like a privileged visitor and you enter an environment where humans are only guests. If you visit the woods in the cold or rain, you can be lucky enough to be the only human soul in the environment. Even in the summer you will only occasionally pass a dog-walker, runner or rambler.
Interestingly, speaking to my eldest, as he and his friends are playing out around the local area, they are coming up with their own names and stories for local landmarks, in turn creating their own maps, stories and local histories as they go.
Below are some recent examples I’ve found by chance.
My current photographic project uses maps to discover previously unknown locations in my local area. For example, on a recent bike ride I planned a route on Komoot and found a lane which led onto an almost disused motorway bridge with a view over to Cottingley.
I’ve been studying a number of maps of the local area in addition to this, including both digital and paper maps. Below are some quick examples. Note the reservoir acting as a rough point for my starting location.
Have you got any interesting maps to share? Are maps an important part of your practice? Are you a big fan of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs? Get in touch below!