Saturday, April 17, 2010

Edward Burtynsky's photographs

For those of you who are interested in looking at more of Burtynsky's work, here's a link to his web site.  As I posted in my comment to Crystal, do you think the way that his photographs render these "manufactured landscapes" beautiful and almost abstract detracts from his environmentalist message?
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4 comments:

  1. JSJ90April 17, 2010 at 10:38 PM

    Personally I think these photos are really beautiful but also convey a strong environmentalist message. Under the "Mines" category there is a picture called "Kennecott Copper Mine No.22" which I believe shows a perfect example of this. This photo has a beautiful spiraling effect to it and the color in the water at the center is magnificent. I believe that anyone would be in awe of a sight like this one. At the same time, I think this picture shows Burtynsky's environmentalist message perfectly despite its beauty. After looking at this picture one gets the sense that the unnatural spiraling crater is closing in on the pool of water at the center, almost causing it to disappear completely. Burtynsky is showing what effect this mining landscape can have on a beautiful natural environment. I believe that the beauty in these photos results in the viewer appreciating and spending more time looking at them, which allows for the viewer to realize the ultimate effect that the photo is trying to portray.

    -Justin

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  2. AnonymousApril 17, 2010 at 11:23 PM

    I honestly think it depends on the specific photo since I could see how some of them detract from his environmentalist message and how some of them, in a way, exemplify it.

    For example, looking at Old Factory #2 in the China album, I can't even tell if I think it is beautiful. Yes, it does look almost abstract. Beautiful? Maybe... It certainly moves ME. I feel... a sense of awe? But it's a sort of frightening awe. (What was the word again? Sublime?) It's more of a feeling like, "OH MY GOD! WHY IS IT LIKE THIS?!" Sort of a shocked horror, I guess you could say. So, in this particular photo, I believe that although the photo may be considered beautiful, it enhances his environmentalist message.

    Whereas, if I look at the collection in Railcuts album, I'm more inclined to view the photo as a serene beautiful, despite the work done on it by humans. Maybe it is the ancient "conqueror" in me or something, but I just can't help seeing the landscape in this collection as beautiful. I feel like the cuts in the rock mountain just enhance that beauty--and so, I don't feel the environmentalist message that Burtynsky is trying to convey. I appreciate the beauty--and I feel like the beauty blinds me to any other message that the photo may have. (Or maybe I'm just not looking deep enough.)

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  3. Jordan WillisApril 19, 2010 at 3:08 PM

    I think the titles of Burtynsky's exhibits say a lot about his perception of his subjects. In correlation with the film Manufactured Landscapes, I find it interesting that none of the titles display a 'natural' tone. I don't know... I guess I just wasn't expecting to see titles that were so matter-of-fact (like Old Factory #2). In any case, I think the simplicity in his titles means a great deal in reference to the industrialization we have promoted.

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  4. Andy AlbrightApril 20, 2010 at 2:55 PM

    I think that, overall, the beauty really does detract from his message. In looking at these photographs, the large majority of them were quite beautiful. I found myself wishing I could see these places in person instead of being shocked by the environmental damage in the photos. Though there are some photos that do really strike me to be troubling for our environment, overall that was not the affect they had on me. I think that the beauty detracts from his message.

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