The role of Landscape Photography in establishment of National Parks

Abstract

The first part of this paper examines the fundamental principles of landscape photography starting with the formation of landscape as a concept and a painting genre, up to landscape photography and its various identities as an art medium, a document, an imperialistic weapon, a tool of identification. The beginning of landscape photography is presented with special focus on mountain photography. The theme moves American West where the first National Park was born, an institution that can be both praised for bringing people closer to nature, and blamed for keeping people away from direct natural experience. Τhe second part analyses the case of Swiss photographer Frederic Boissonnas and his relationship with Mount Olympus. The reasons that brought him to Greece, the first ascent on the summit of the mountain in 1913, his other two expeditions in 1919 and 1927 and his promotion campaign for Mount Olympus National Park are researched. Finally Boissonnas' movements for the establishment of the Park are studied in order to understand the role his photographs played in preserving the natural and cultural landscape of the area.