Recently, I heard of a new documentary called "Act of God" by Jennifer Baichwal, that involved looking at individuals struck by lightning.
I haven't had a chance to check out this new film, but it did remind me of a previous movie that she had done called "Manufactured Landscapes," which highlighted the remarkable photography of Edward Burtynsky.
And whilst thinking about this, I've stumbled across Edward's great website which has some of the most striking imagery I've seen in a long time (Click on the images to get to a larger version and title on Edward's website).
Nature transformed through industry is a predominant theme in my work. I set course to intersect with a contemporary view of the great ages of man; from stone, to minerals, oil, transportation, silicon, and so on. To make these ideas visible I search for subjects that are rich in detail and scale yet open in their meaning. Recycling yards, mine tailings, quarries and refineries are all places that are outside of our normal experience, yet we partake of their output on a daily basis.These images are meant as metaphors to the dilemma of our modern existence; they search for a dialogue between attraction and repulsion, seduction and fear. We are drawn by desire - a chance at good living, yet we are consciously or unconsciously aware that the world is suffering for our success. Our dependence on nature to provide the materials for our consumption and our concern for the health of our planet sets us into an uneasy contradiction. For me, these images function as reflecting pools of our times.
As well, Mr. Burtynsky was the recipient of a 2005 TED prize, so you can also learn more by watching this TED video.
Oh, and Ben just reminded me that related to all of this, you can also check out this previous post.
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You should take a look at NextNature also :-)
Wow. Those are really stunning. Simultaneously beautiful and frightening.
the Japanese(?) cafeteria reminds me of those Andy Warhol art pieces with multiple iterations of the same image.
The quarry with the ladders and the cubes looks like something Escher would have dreamed up.
The first two bring Tolkien's Angband to mind.
Japanese cafeteria message: Don't wear a red shirt, or you'll sit along at lunch.
thanks it is the topic
I feel Bad for the Lady in Red , she eats by her self :(
Some people prefer to eat alone. It's much better than the mindless prattle, like cigarette smoke, that is imposed by others to ruin a good meal.