This site page relates to page 4 of your workbook:

PART 3: FIELD SKETCHING

1.  Start by OBSERVING the scene you would like to sketch. Determine the key features you would like to record. In the case of the photograph above you would at least want to record the water, vegetation, and rock wall in the foreground. You might also choose to record the Nightcap National Park in the background.

2. If you were drawing a field sketch in the field you would make yourself comfortable, choosing an aspect that allows you to accurately record the scene. You will need a soft pencil (HB or 2B), an eraser and a clipboard, notepad or other surface on which to rest while you draw. Begin by drawing the FRAME of your sketch. Use as much of the piece of paper as you can, leaving sufficient margins, so that your sketch is clear. (your frame is already created for you in the work booklet, page 4).  It is often better to draw your sketch in landscape.

3.  DIVIDE your sketch into three approximately equal horizontal sections drawing very faint lines. These will help you record features you see in the:

·         Foreground

·         Middle ground

·         Background

You will erase these lines when you no longer need them for reference.

Features in the background will be smaller and less defined whereas features in the front will be bigger and more detailed

4.  Draw in the MAIN FEATURES or lines of the scene you are observing. It is worth starting with the horizon and then sketching in the main features you observe. Remember, these are the main features you observed above. In our example mark in the horizon and the sand dunes. 

5. Continue to ADD DETAILS with reference to the main features. In the photograph these features include the coastal vegetation, the rock wall and in the middle ground and left of scene a person (known to be 6ft) standing. You might choose to include man made features such as fences, buildings etc. You     will need to include all the details that you find are relevant to accurately recording the geographical features of the site. You might also choose to include  other details to provide a sense of scale. In our case the person standing is a good example; while they are not necessarily a key feature, recording them gives a good indication of the height of the dunes that they are standing next to.

6. SHADE the sketch to highlight the main features. In our example you might choose to  shade the ocean to highlight it from the beach. Try to avoid over shading as this will make the sketch cluttered and harder to distinguish finer details. For example, while the sky is dark in the photograph shading it might make it harder to distinguish it from the ocean.

7.  LABEL the main features shown in the sketch. ANNOTATE the sketch with any other field data you may wish to record. You should record where you     made the observations and the direction in which you were facing. You might record your location on a hard copy map, another field sketched map or record a grid reference. For further accuracy you might record the co-ordinates from a GPS or by using Google Maps and determine a bearing using a compass. You might choose to record the time of day and the date you made the sketch. You should record any information that you would like to be able to refer to later in your investigations. 

The location of the photograph is “Brunswick Heads beach, North of the Surf Club”. Date is 5th May 2020.  Time is 11.15 am. 

See if you can use Google Maps to find the approximate co-ordinates of this location. (Co ordinates are best recorded in Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS) format.) There are websites that will help you convert the Google maps co ordinates to the DMS format For example LatLong.net   

Remember to give your co ordinates a value ending in a cardinal point; N, S, E, or W) You should be able to determine the direction the photograph is facing by observing its features.  Remember we are on the East Coast.

8.  Make sure you have labelled all of the vegetation you know.  For example Goatsfoot,  Spinifex,  Coastal Wattle are all visible in your sketch.

9. Give the field sketch a heading. Check you have completed your field sketch with the checklist below. FINALISE the sketch by penning in the frame of the     sketch with a black- felt tipped pen.

10.  If you need more assistance follow this link for more ideas. Slideshare resource