Images of England - Project Methodology

Project Methodology

Hundreds of volunteer photographers, many from local camera clubs or the Royal Photographic Society, were allocated a number of listed buildings to record in their area. They were briefed to only take one ‘defining image’ of each listed item. Each 'defining image' aimed to show the architectural character of the building, indicate its historical function, suggest its context, and provide a truthful high quality with as much visual information as possible. The photographers were restricted to one frame per building and used standard 35mm photographic equipment and colour negative film.

Volunteers were given film, processing and travel expenses and retain the copyright to their images. Each photograph is credited to the relevant photographer on the site. The photographs had to be taken from publicly accessible land (unless permission was granted to photograph from private land). Photographers were asked to capture a single 'defining image' of the exterior of each Listed Building.

Many of the listed structures were hard to photograph due to their size or location. This meant that, in some circumstances, some pictures are not ideal, but have been included anyway to provide as comprehensive a record as possible. Much of the success of the finished project is due to the enthusiasm and thoroughness of the volunteers who hunted down buildings and tried to find the best angle for the photograph in often not ideal circumstances.