My interest in the work of Burtynsky continues through his Quarries series. This work documents quarrying operations for a variety of materials from a variety of locations. As with other Burtynsky projects, this took place over the course of a prolonged period of time. Although the devastation to the landscape here could be described as being less invasive here, with projects like Oil being more impactful and almost violent, the scars to the land are plain to see.
In many ways my most favourite of Burtynskys images and those that have most impact on me are those where a sense of scale is lost. Images where we have little evidence to reveal the size and scope of the operations they depict. This first gallery below are a sample from the series with another gallery shown further down the page of images which I feel connect better with me and my practice.
With these initial images in mind I have focussed my attention towards the gallery shown below. These examples of Burtynskys work have been separated out due to their visual aesthetic. I feel a strong connection with them due to the presence of the previously existing or surrounding landscape. They demonstrate the scars cutting deep from industrial advances and demand for the material held within. Portraying a sometimes typified landscape vista with the marks of mankind laid clear.
From a technical perspective Burtynskys early use of large format cameras, typically 10×8 colour), really resonates with me. I too have been a practitioner of the large format for nearly 10 years now and the impact it has made on my own photography has been immense. The ability to compose ones image upon the ground glass as a painter composes their scene upon their canvas is key to its magic. The light projecting upon the frosted screen, upside down and back to front, puts us in tune with the view we aim to capture. In more recent bodies of work and where using 10×8 is not practical, for example when airborne in helicopters etc, Burtynsky turned to the use of digital medium format cameras. This is something I could only get a sniff at while studying for my BA and something which is well beyond my financial capabilities at this point in life!
To summarise, Burtynskys impact upon my practice has been immense. From the approaches and methodologies to the delivery methods and ways of working with photography, I have always felt utterly inspired by his work. In the grand scheme of my own practice how will this take effect? Large format 5×4 colour is definitely something very high on my agenda and early development will take place through medium format film and backed up with DSLR HDR images.
Burtynsky, E. (2019). Quarries. https://www.edwardburtynsky.com/projects/photographs/quarries
Andrews Masters Journey 