Have any of you heard of Edward Burtynsky? If not, he's a Canadian photographer who has become very well-known for his photographs of industrial landscapes. He was born on February 22 in 1955 in St. Catharines, Ontario. He has a BAA in photography and a diploma in Graphic Arts. Burtynsky's most famous photos show mining sites, mine tailings, quarries, factories, large industrial plants, etc. He captures them in such a way that they look almost natural and not man-made. He takes his photos with a large-format camera and 4x5 inch film, creating large finished products. In order to capture suitable shots, Burtynsky goes up on elevated platforms, the natural landscape, and sometimes on helicopters. His works have been exhibited in many galleries and museums across Canada and around the world. Below are some examples of his work:
Processing plant in China
Three Gorges Dam Project in China
Mine Tailing in Sudbury, Ontario
In 2006 a documentary was made about Edward Burtynsky called Manufactured Landscapes. The documentary focused on Burtynsky's many photograph series, his processes, and his inspirations for his photoraphs. It also showed the places he's traveled to in order to get good shots. I was enlightened as to the amount of destruction mankind has caused the environment in order to obtain resources that most of us take for granted. Seeing mine tailings that turned rivers bright orange or green and the humongous piles of rubber tires really opened my eyes. I think it's a really good thing that Burtynsky takes photos of places around the world that have been ravaged by man and abandoned, like the marble quarries in Italy that he photographed. Giant holes blasted into the mountains, and most of them were just abandoned. Oil spills were photographed as well, and just thinking of all the sea life that had to live with black gunk floating around makes me queasy. Thank you, Edward Burtynsky for inspiring us to help the environment!
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