About this artwork

Buckham felt that the most spectacular cloud formations and theatrical light could be captured on 'stormy days, with bursts of sunshine and occasional showers of rain'. This creativity led to him being regarded as the leading aerial photographer of his day and he was renowned for his atmospheric shots of the landscape. Over the years he amassed a vast collection of photographs of skies which he integrated with a separate landscape photograph to enhance the drama and create a more impressive composition. This image over the Firth of Forth, encapsulates the romantic fusion of man’s engineering achievements against the dramatic beauty of nature. The three steel arches of the Forth Rail Bridge are mirrored in the three biplanes, which Buckham added later by hand, silhouetted against the spectacular sky.

Updated before 2020

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Alfred G Buckham

Alfred G Buckham