“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

LandscapeAssignment 4 Critical Review (Rework)

Craig SinclairStudent Number 515221

“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

Introduction

This essay will discuss how photographers Edward Burtynsky and Nick Brandt have approached issues surrounding the encroachment of humans on the natural world and question whether photography can have an impact on our collective responsibility towards the environment. Can photography influence our responsibilities towards the environment or is it more complicated than that?

The landscape is a combination of the physical elements of the land, the weather and the topography of the land; the interaction between the natural ecosystems and artificial, manmade places, cultures, countries and societies.

The environment is everything that surrounds us, both human habitats and the natural world. The environment is all life, the physical objects around us from the soil, the air, the water, to the social, culture and political structures humans create.

Each individual is responsible for their actions within society but each action impacts on the wider population. In our intertwined world everything has a cause and effect, an action and reaction. A single piece of rubbish dropped in the ocean could have multiple repercussions across the globe. All parts of our global community need to be behind environmental protections. This is the responsibility of people and governments. How are photographers exploring the human impacts upon the land and the environment? Is the pursuit of human growth fuelling the decline of the natural world?

Driven by the protection and conservation of the natural world and all animals on the planet, my concern is that we are reaching a tipping point where our human ambitions for endless growth without a sustainable approach will have devastating and irreversible effects on the planet. Protecting all life is beneficial to human existence.

Edward Burtynsky

Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky (b.1955) explores how humans are changing the very shape of the earth in the name of progress. Burtynsky’s projects cover themes including extraction of fossil fuels and raw materials, re-diverting river courses through the

Page 1 of 11

“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

creation of dams, the Anthropocene, terra-forming (changing the Earth’s surface for human needs), anthro-turbation (scarring of the planet and disturbance of the soil by human activity i.e. Gotthard Base Tunnel through the Alps in Switzerland), the waste and techno-fossils created through our manufacturing processes that remain within the biosphere; ultimately becoming geological layers upon the surface of the Earth.

Image 1 Dandora Landfill #1 Nairobi, Kenya, 2016. Image by Edward Burtynsky

In the image above a human figure walks in the foreground giving the viewer a sense of the scale of human rubbish towering behind him. Using a high vantage point Burtynsky shows from front to back in the image how severe the situation is. The Dandora Landfill in Kenya was first established in the 1970s and now covers over 30 acres, people from the local slums surrounding the landfill scavenge the area for scraps to be sold on to recyclers. In the process of rummaging through the waste they are exposed to disease and dangerous chemicals and elements. We all create waste and are all responsible for it.

“We come from nature...we have to understand what it is, so as not to harm it and ultimately harm ourselves. There is an importance to have a certain reverence for what

nature is because we are connected to it and we are part of it and if we destroy nature, we destroy ourselves, I believe that as a fundamental philosophical position when I look at the

world”

(Burtynsky)

Page 2 of 11

“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

Image 2 Xiaolangdi Dam #3 Yellow River, Henan Province, China, 2011. Image by Edward Burtynsky

In the image Xiaolangdi Dam #3 Yellow River from his series Water Burtynsky has captured the sheer force of the silt filled water gushing through the Xiaolangdi dam. Burtynksy himself compared this image to the storm paintings by William Turner, explaining how he sees the idea of the Sublime in art in a state of inversion. Originally the sublime was romanticised as humans were dwarfed by the force of Mother Nature or the ancient gods, nature is no longer the thing to be feared, and humans are now the overpowering force to be feared in pursuit of dominance over the land through mass expansion. Within landscape photography there has been a distinctive shift from the picturesque photographs taken by the likes of Ansel Adams towards one of reflection upon our impact on the natural world along with a call for action.

“To kill the aesthetic component is to throw the baby out of the bath water” (Burtynsky)

Burtynsky considers there to be key elements or events taking place within the frame that he is looking for; colour, texture, form, line, scale and mood through light (with light being the most powerful element). The final component is placing the viewer within the frame. Without the viewer there is no communication it is a one sided discussion. When these elements are drawn together the image works. There has to be something within the image that pulls the viewer in, to want to linger over it. The photographs have the ability to intrigue the viewer with their alluring aesthetic qualities then invite the viewer to question the subject matter objectively without pre-made judgements by the photographer. There is a balance to everything in life, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, a consequence for everything we do. In a 2005 TED Talk Burtynksy made the comparison of

Page 3 of 11

“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

his work to two sides of a coin within the frame; attraction and repulsion. There is a conflict of feeling within his images (forbidden pleasure) and guilt in sharing collective responsibility for the state the planet is in. His approach appears to work well, although one critique of Burtynsky's work is that he is in some way glorifying these destructive human activities but his work has managed to raise awareness of these issues into the collective consciousness, had he not drawn the viewers gaze towards these places and issues they may never have seen the bigger picture.

Nick Brandt

Image 3 Underpass with Elephants (Lean back your life is on track), 2015. Image by Nick Brandt.

In the series Inherit the dust British photographer Nick Brandt explores developing urban African landscapes where animals once roamed freely now devoid of any wildlife. The photographs of the urban landscape are juxtaposed with images taken by Brandt previously of wildlife in the wild, placed on large panels placed within the scene. Many of the animals have since been killed by poachers.

“If we continue to do nothing, future generations will be inheriting the sad remnants of a once thriving planet. They will be inheriting dust” (Brandt)

In the photograph Underpass with Elephants the viewer is presented with the concrete jungle. Beneath the underpass children and young adults sit around sniffing glue whilst the elephants on the panel appear to look out at the world they once knew, now unrecognisable, as if to question 'what is this place?' The elephants are confined within concrete pillars, the road towers above, in the distance is a billboard that reads ‘’lean back, your life is on track”. The image is powerful. A child stands with its back towards the viewer staring in awe at the elephants whilst another child appears to interact with the animal’s trunk, almost bringing the animal to life within the frame, perhaps this is the first time the child has seen an elephant. Due to labour laws Brandt wasn’t allowed to instruct or direct

Page 4 of 11

“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

the subjects within his images, so the interplay between the people and the panels is genuine; part tableau, part documentary. The framing of the photograph leads the viewer through the image, the grey clouds present a sombre apocalyptic lament and foresight of the direction humanity is heading. The use of black and white film filters out the noise, giving the viewer a sense of the serious message within the imagery and the sense of a time that has passed.

In comparison to Burtynsky’s work, Brandt shares qualities of presenting the viewer with beautiful imagery mixed with melancholy. There is a level of guilt and reflection in being drawn to work presented with such technical accuracy and pleasing compositional aesthetics. If the image was not interesting, nobody would look at it, so the viewer is drawn in then left to question the scene and what this all means. In contrast Brandt’s work feels more confrontational than Burtynsky’s, it’s a different approach to a similar message; continuing expansion in the pursuit of economic progress has a devastating impact upon wildlife, nature and the human species.

Are people driven to change by imagery like this or do they prefer to look away? To not acknowledge its existence could be easier in the short term but the future impact would be more devastating. Brandt has highlighted through his photographic exhibitions and talks in the West the need to preserve, protect and conserve the habitats of animals in Africa. Looking from a Western perspective it’s too easy to question expansion and growth in other countries, to throw stones but not question our own history. We have the benefit of leisure time to question others. In critique, the image could imply that the people within the frame don’t care about the animals but they also appear to be a product of their environment, succumbed by addiction and the urban environment. In short, everyone benefits from protecting the environment.

In 2010 Brandt, conservationist Richard Bonham, and entrepreneur Tom Hill co-founded the Big Life Foundation. The not for profit conservation group works to protect and preserve the animals and ecosystems within Eastern Africa. The focus of the foundation is to engage and work with the local community to protect nature for the benefit of all. Through his photography Brandt raises money towards the foundation through donations made at his exhibitions, so the photographic work directly feeds back into the protection of the land and wildlife.

Each individual can play a part in the wider collective response to the environment. During a talk with F Talk at Fotografiska in 2016 Brandt reflects back on the ‘Inherit the Dust’ project and how the individual can act:

“All of us can do something, no matter how small. Collecting plastic off a beach...eat less meat. All of us doing something small adds up to one big thing. All of us can do something

that can make some kind of difference” (Brandt)

Page 5 of 11

“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

Conclusion

Fundamentally, people and governments bring about real change for the environment and the natural world. Both Burtynsky and Brandt acknowledge the limitations and reach of photography alone. Photography can play a part in documenting, influencing commenting and being a part of the conversation on the world but photography alone cannot change the structure or fabric of society and this is done through human actions, community engagement and laws. However, photography can play a part in highlighting and communicating the concerns within our world, of seeing how things are changing around us, how we as a species are physically changing the very earth beneath us and the ecosystems that are fundamental to all life on earth. The endless pursuit of technological progress, consumerism, economic and population growth will eventually come to a head. There isn’t an endless supply of resources on the planet, and with the human population heading towards 8 billion people, the human species will hit a ceiling where there won’t be enough food or water for everyone, alternatively, something will happen within nature to rebalance the books.

“Beyond geo-politics, or religion, this is our habitat. Whichever political spectrum you are from, if you pollute your water, you are all going to get sick,

it doesn’t care where you come from” (Burtynsky)

This year (2020) has shown to the whole world how fragile humans are as a species through the COVID-19 global pandemic; our ever more inter-connected world spread the virus like wildfire. Thankfully most countries chose life over the economy but the tension is out there, you can only put the brakes on the economic machine for so long before the whole thing crumbles down. The environment breathed a momentary sigh of relief as people were quarantined to their homes. In these strange times, the thirst for the natural world and wildlife became more prominent as life slowed down and people reflected on what really mattered. The birds in the morning sounded louder as the skies were free of planes flying overhead and cars were left on driveways, sightings of wildlife increased. Areas with higher air pollution levels like Italy saw higher rates of infection. In 2014 the World Health Organisation produced a report stating that 7 million people a year die from air pollution. Other reports in the news indicated that air pollution was declining around the world as less people commuted to work every day by car and factories or manufacturing plants remain closed. In short, we can see the steps that need to be taken yet there still seems to be a reluctance to take them. Will the population learn the lessons from the virus or will they just go back to their old ways.

Page 6 of 11

“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

Word Count with Quotes: 2,109

Word Count without Quotes: 1,928

Bibliography

Images:

Image 1 Burtynsky, E (2016) Dandora Landfill #1 Nairobi, Kenya. [Photograph] from the Photographic Series Anthropocene. At: https://www.edwardburtynsky.com/projects/photographs/anthropocene (accessed 12/06/2020)

Image 2 Burtynsky, E (2011) Xiaolangdi Dam #3 Yellow River, Henan Province, China. [Photograph] from the Photographic Series Water. At: https://www.edwardburtynsky.com/projects/photographs/water (accessed 12/06/2020)

Image 3 Brandt, N (2015) Underpass with Elephants (Lean back your life is on track). [Photograph] from the Photographic Series Inherit the Dust. At:https://inheritthedust.nickbrandt.com/ (accessed 12/06/2020)

Works Cited in order of appearance:

1 From the Princeton Environmental Institute talk: Edward Burtynsky "Vital Liquids: Oil and Water - A Visual Study" (2013) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTsV2VZX5PE (accessed 11/06/2020) 2 From the Princeton Environmental Institute talk: Edward Burtynsky "Vital Liquids: Oil and Water - A Visual Study" (2013) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTsV2VZX5PE (accessed 11/06/2020) 3 From the Artists website. Inherit the Dust Nick Brandt (2014) https://inheritthedust.nickbrandt.com/ (accessed 12/06/2020) 4 From F Talk with Nick Brandt at Fotografiska Sweden (2016)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDJW2Knw818 (accessed 12/06/2020) 5 From the Princeton Environmental Institute talk: Edward Burtynsky "Vital Liquids: Oil and Water - A Visual Study" (2013) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTsV2VZX5PE (accessed 11/06/2020)

Books:Adams, A. (2007) Ansel Adams' 400 Photographs. London: Little, Brown & Company.

Anderson, J.R.L, Godwin F. (1975) The Oldest Road: An Exploration of The Ridgeway. London: Wildwood House Ltd.

Asselin, M. (2020) Monsanto: a Photographic Investigation. Actes Sud; Bilingual edition.

Page 7 of 11

“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

Barthes, R. (1980) Camera Lucida Reflections on Photography. London: Vintage.

Brandt, N. (2009) A Shadow Falls. New York: Abrams.

Brandt, N. (2019) This Empty World. London: Thames & Hudson.

Coverley, M. (2018) Psychogeography. (3rd Ed.) Harpenden: Oldcastle Books.

Ellis, E. (2018) Anthropocene: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Emerson, R. (1836) Nature. San Francisco: Blurb.

Gillett, A. (2009) Inside Track to Successful Academic Writing. Longman.

Godwin, F. (1985) Land. London: William Heinemann Ltd.

Godwin, F. (1990) Our Forbidden Land. London: Jonathan Cape.

Macfarlane, R. (2007) The Wild Places. London: Granta Books.

Salgado, S. (2007) Africa. Cologne: Taschen.

Salgado, S. (2014) From My Land to the Planet. Rome: Contrasto

Salgado, S & Salgado, L W. (2013) Genesis. Cologne: Taschen.

Wallace-Wells, D. (2019) The Uninhabitable Earth: A Story Of The Future. Colchester: Penguin Random House UK.

Exhibitions:

Asselin, M. Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation. [Exhibition] London: The Photographers Gallery. 2018.

Brandt, N. (2019) Nick Brandt This Empty World. [Exhibition] London: Waddingon Custot. 07/02/2019 – 07/03/2019

Film/TV/Online:

Ansel Adams: A Documentary Film (2002) Directed by Ric Burns. [DVD] PBS International

Anthropocene: The Human Epoch. Edward Burtynsky (2020) Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier, and Edward Burtynsky. [DVD Import] Kino Lorber

Art Wolfe's Travels to the Edge (2007) Directed by Sean White. [Amazon] At: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bolivia-The-Altiplano/dp/B077TSW1HY/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1541622731&sr=1-1&keywords=Art+Wolfe (accessed 21/12/2019)

Blue Planet II (2017) Directed by Alastair Fothergill. [DVD] BBC EARTH

Page 8 of 11

“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

Edward Burtynsky "Vital Liquids: Oil and Water - A Visual Study" (2013) Princeton Environmental Institute:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTsV2VZX5PE (accessed 11/06/2020)

F Talk with Nick Brandt at Fotografiska Sweden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDJW2Knw818 (accessed 12/06/2020)

Hebrides: Islands on the edge (2013) Directed by Nigel Pope. [DVD] BBC

Highlands: Scotland Wild Heart (2016) Directed by Nigel Pope. [DVD] BBC

Manufactured Landscapes by Edward Burtynsky (2006) Directed by Jennifer Baichwal. [DVD] Bfi

Our Planet with David Attenborough (2019) Directed by Alastair Fothergill. [Netflix] At: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80049832 (accessed 21/12/2019)

Planet Earth II (2016) Directed by Vanessa Berlowitz, Mike Gunton, James Brickell, Tom Hugh-Jones. [DVD] BBC Earth

Potkaaers podcast interview with Mathieu Asselin - the Monsanto Photographic Exhibition

Potkaars podcast - artist photographer Mathieu Asselin - the Monsanto Photographic Exhibition interview (accessed 12/06/2020)

Salt of the Earth: Sebastiao Salgado [2014] Directed by Wim Wenders. [DVD] Artificial Eye

Tales by Light: Season 1: Darren Jew, Richard I’Anson, Krystle Wright, Art Wolfe, Peter Eastway (2015) Directed by Abraham Joffe. [Netflix] At: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80133187 (accessed 21/12/2019)

Tales by Light: Season 2: Jonathan and Angela Scott, Eric Cheng, Stephen Dupont (2016) Directed by Abraham Joffe. [Netflix] At: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80133187 (accessed 21/12/2019)

Tales by Light: Season 3: Simon Lister, Shawn Heinrichs, Dylan River (2018) Directed by Abraham Joffe. [Netflix] At: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80133187 (accessed 21/12/2019)

Ted Talks: Edward Burtynsky: Manufactured Landscapes (2005) Director unknown [YouTube] At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Dd4k63-zM (accessed 21/12/2019)

Watermark: Edward Burtnsky (2014) Direct by Jennifer Baichwal [DVD] Soda Pictures

Page 9 of 11

“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

Websites and online articles:

Air pollution linked to raised Covid-19 death risk:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52351290 (accessed 12/06/2020)

Air pollution 'kills 7 million people a year':

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/25/air-pollution-kills-7m-people-a-year (accessed 12/06/2020)

Ansel Adams donation from U.S. National Archives (2011). At: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:2011_Ansel_Adams_donation_from_U.S._National_Archives (accessed 21/12/2019)

A Silent but Most Effective Voice’: Ansel Adams and Advocacy (2016). At: https://www.npca.org/articles/1307-a-silent-but-most-effective-voice-ansel-adams-and-advocacy (accessed 21/12/2019)

Big Life Foundation:

https://biglife.org/who-we-are/about-big-life (accessed 12/06/2020)

Coomes, P. (2013) Sebastiao Salgado's Genesis. Natural History Museum in London. At: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-22080740 (accessed 21/12/2019)

Coronavirus pandemic leading to huge drop in air pollution:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/23/coronavirus-pandemic-leading-to-huge-drop-in-air-pollution (accessed 12/06/2020)

Cumming, L. (2013) Sebastião Salgado: Genesis – review. Natural History Museum, London. At: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/apr/14/sebastiao-salgado-genesis-review (accessed 21/12/2019)

Dust to dust: animals lost in an African apocalypse – in pictures:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2016/apr/05/nick-brandt-inherit-the-dust-africa (accessed 12/06/2020)

Environmental Justice Atlas: Dandora Landfill in Nairobi, Kenya:

https://ejatlas.org/conflict/dandora-landfill-in-nairobi-kenya (accessed 12/06/2020)

Extinction Rebellion (2019). At:

https://rebellion.earth/ (accessed 21/12/2019)

Page 10 of 11

“To what extent has landscape photography addressed our collective responsibility for the natural environment?”

Lacayo, R. (2013) In the Beginnings: Sebastião Salgado's Genesis. At: https://time.com/3798068/in-the-beginnings-sebastiao-salgados-genesis/ (accessed 21/12/2019)

LensCulture : Inherit the Dust:

https://www.lensculture.com/articles/nick-brandt-inherit-the-dust (accessed 12/06/2020)

Nick Brandt Website: Inherit the Dust:

https://inheritthedust.nickbrandt.com/ (accessed 12/06/2020)

Satellite images show how air pollution has changed during the pandemic:

https://www.accuweather.com/en/health-wellness/satellite-images-show-how-air-pollution-has-changed-during-the-pandemic/711767 (accessed 12/06/2020)

Szarkowski, J. (s.d) Alfred Stieglitz American photographer. At: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-Stieglitz#ref830085 (accessed 21/12/2019) The Pandemic Has Led to a Huge, Global Drop in Air Pollution:

https://www.wired.com/story/the-pandemic-has-led-to-a-huge-global-drop-in-air-pollution/ (accessed 12/06/2020)

Turnage, R. (1980) from The Living Wilderness. Wilderness Society. At:http://anseladams.com/ansel-adams-the-role-of-the-artist-in-the-environmental-movement/ (accessed 21/12/2019)

The Instituto Terra. At:http://www.institutoterra.org/eng/conteudosLinks.php?id=22&tl=QWJvdXQgdXM=&sb=NQ==#.Xegei6iTLnE (accessed 21/12/2019)

The Wilderness Society. At:https://www.wilderness.org/ (accessed 21/12/2019)

U.S. and World Population Clock

https://www.census.gov/popclock/world (accessed 12/06/2020)

Page 11 of 11