Renowned photographer Adrian Houston has spent decades exploring the profound relationship between nature, architecture, and human experience. From documenting ancient trees rooted in our collective history to capturing the quiet poetry of buildings reclaimed by time, his work invites viewers to look more closely.
Trees are central to many of your projects, from A Portrait of the Tree to Faith in Trees. What draws you to them as subjects, and how do you translate their symbolism into your photography?
I was raised in Scotland amidst forests and woodlands, which fostered my appreciation for native trees. When I became aware that our indigenous trees were facing threats from pollution, global warming, and disease, I felt compelled to raise awareness about their significance. These trees are essential not only to our environment but also contribute greatly to mental health and overall well-being.
Having travelled extensively for your photography, how do different cultures and environments influence the way you see and capture nature?
The most important thing is to understand and appreciate your surroundings. Spend time connecting to your subject. Photographing a portrait of a person or a tree is the same thing – you must feel relaxed and connected to them to get the best out of them.
Environmental awareness is a recurring theme in your work. How do you use photography to inspire viewers to care about and protect the natural world?
My goal through my books and exhibitions is to reconnect people to nature. If the world was reconnected, there would be a lot less conflict on all levels of life. Helping our mental health is key to a happier world.
When photographing sweeping landscapes to intricate natural details, how does scale influence the way you tell a story visually?
I would always look for something in the composition that gives you an idea of scale. I remember once I was on a shoot in Alaska and had taken a helicopter to the top of the Mendenhall Glacier around 4,000 metres. We camped overnight with the only sound being the cracking glacier. Twilight was the only darkness. I decided to start a trek at 2.30am to a peak I could see in the distance – it looked about a two hour walk. Five hours later we reached the peak! Standing on that peak with the feeling that probably no one else had ever stood there was something to behold.
Much of your work explores the emotional power of light and atmosphere. How do these elements shape the mood and narrative of your photographs?
Understanding light is the single most important aspect when composing a picture. The more atmosphere you can capture the more attention you can draw. The best time of the day for me is one hour before sunrise. The stillness and solitude before the day starts has always been good for my soul. As the colours of the sky change from deep blue to a warm glow, the landscape takes on its different forms, peace is the overriding feeling.
When commissioned to photograph architectural spaces, such as Cambridge House ahead of its restoration, how do you approach capturing the interaction between the built environment and the natural world?
There is a real beauty in seeing a building that has been left and taken over by nature the different hues of colour that have been faded by time create an atmosphere of their own. Seeing the building restored to life in the way it was in the 1700s is an inspiration. The importance of capturing the interior spaces using subtle forms of light to give it the mood and atmosphere it deserves is so important. Showing the connection between Green Park and Cambridge House with views across to Buckingham Palace is so special. The Royal Parks are the lungs of London and of great benefit to the wellbeing of its citizens and visitors.
Do you find yourself drawn to certain architectural styles or materials when photographing buildings, and what do you look for to tell a compelling story through the lens?
For me, the most important aspect of any space is to show the warmth and atmosphere that it has been created. It needs to look lived in – not cold and empty or over-lit with daylight. You want to connect with the space and telling a story is the most important aspect.
If you could create your dream project photographing a building or space in harmony with its natural surroundings, what would it be, and what inspires you about that vision?
Any building that fits into the landscape in a way that makes it look as though it is an integral part of the beauty of its surroundings. Connecting both to nature would in itself be a place of peace and harmony and respect.