Continuing with the concept of  Imageability in the sense ascribed to it by Tveit, Ode & Fry (see ref. in Post #171):

   The authors define imageability as:

 "qualities of a landscape present in totality or through elements; landmarks and special features, both natural and cultural, making the landscape create a strong visual image in the observer, and making landscapes distinguishable and memorable"

     Thus defined, the question of imageability seems to open two diverging lines of enquiry:

1) attempting to establish which specific "landmarks and special features" contribute the most to the strength of the visual image (as inferred from questioning representative samples of observers)  

2) attempting to obtain a greater understanding of the notion of 'strength of visual images of landscapes'; after all, to talk of image strength, image power or image potency, is to speak metaphorically to convey the idea that the contemplation of  certain landscapes may result in a clear and telling mental image (impression) while that of other landscapes  won't.

       Tveit et al, choose to take the first line of enquiry and focus on the "features of the landscape and not in the psychological processes of the viewer" because, as they say,  their main concern is on concepts related to landscape structure and hence the concept of imageability in that context, describes properties of the physical landscape itself. Nevertheless, the authors acknowledge that "the identity of a place can support and develop cultural or personal identity for the people living in the area" ;a point of view usually adopted nowadays in Human Geography, Landscape Architecture and Env. Psychology.

      I find it necessary to dwell on the basic aspects of imageability because if one proposes that the concept is central, pivotal, to our appreciation of landscapes, it would incorporate with it  the question of whether 'proper' appreciation should focus on concrete, objectified, features of the appreciated landscape or, without ignoring them, focus on cognitive (including emotional) aspects of the observer that result in a landscape being appreciated.

  To be continued ….