William Henry Fox Talbot is well known for creating the first negative image of the Oriel window at Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire. What is less widely known is that Talbot actually created a further five such negatives across a period of time using the same basic composition of the window, thus creating a process of repeat photography.

I have already applied this method to my ongoing project of the Bearpit, having taken photographs every month since last year, from the same vantage point – a bus stop across the road simply because of the clear shot I have from there which also incorporated Ursa the Bear back then.  The angle I originally photographed from was specifically to include Ursa the Bear as I rightly predicted she would be removed.  This choice has dictated any further repeat photography as it shows the most dramatic change of the bear having been removed. 

I do however also employ repeat photography from within the Bearpit itself, always photographing the same subway entrances from the same direction and vantage points.  The reason I have been doing this is to try to show changes across a period of time as one of the central themes within my project has been about impermanence and change.  By documenting places in this way and sharing the details of location, it is possible that these images could become archival over time.

I think repeat photography is an excellent idea for long term projects and is very useful for landscape photographers whether it is the natural landsape or an urban one. Throughout my own images and process of repeat photography, the changes are there for me to see but they are often quite subtle and perhaps not obvious across a the series of photos.  However, I do believe this is a very good method for documenting change across time.  In this case it may be that the changes are qualitative. 

The images below are not necessarily aesthetically pleasing, however, they clearly show the change over time. The first image shows Ursa the Bear still standing while the second one clearly shows her absence. The passage of time is clearly marked by the change in light and the seasonal colours of the trees in the background – summer to autumn of 2019.