Manufactured Landscapes, the film which follows Edward Burtynsky as he seeks out and captures his subjects on large scale cameras has been an ongoing reference point for me. The opportunity to get up close to some of those photographs was exciting. I had never actually been to the photographers gallery before, but as a space it suited the work well.
The prints were huge. The subjects were sobering. But the resolution was so disappointing! I had imagined that the effort it took to capture images on a large format negative would offer the viewer a level of detail in the print which would allow us to enter beyond the surface and get inside the image. I left wondering if the digital print or even capture quality is not yet able to keep up.
The prints at the RCA were much more detailed, I’m particular the examination of mans addition to landscapes produced by James Smith.