In today's class with Richard we were introduced to the genre of Topography. Topography is the study of surface, shape and geometric forms. At first, when he showed us some of the work of photographer's that specialised in this genre, I wasn't too keen but it was interesting to learn about. Many people think that Topography is banal, dull, cold, clinical and emotionless which I do agree with to a certain extent. I am more drawn to photography that is beautiful and about the aesthetics rather than just geometric observations.
One husband and wife team of German photographers who had a huge part in Topography was Bernd Becher and Hilla Becher, both born in the 1930s. The couple were heavily devoted to the 1920s German art movement of Neue Sachlichkeit or new objectivity. They photographed an extensive series of topographies which focused on German industrial landscapes, architecture and structures. Subjects included mining sites, cooling towers, blast furnaces and gas tanks. They photographed all the structures straight on and from a height that gave a neutral vantage point to emphasize the impersonal aesthetics of the buildings, reducing the potential for politicizing them. They created a catalog of types of structures which they referred to as 'typology'. The images of the different types where organised and displayed in large grids.
Becher, Gastanks
The Becher's taught 'New Objectivity' photography at the Dusseldorf school which has promted an article by Grant Scott headlined 'Has the Dusseldorf School killed photography?'. In this article, Scott comments on how the Bechers and 'the disciples of the Dusseldorf school', gave the stamp of approval on a kind of work that is 'easy to do'. He believes that new photographers will look at this work and be influenced to take the easy option and stick to the comfort zone. He says 'These are photographers who have given no thought to how they are going to make a living from their photography or who they are going to work for. They are documenting for the sake of documenting'.
Becher
For me, it was good to read this article because now I know that I'm not the only one with this opinion!! Although, I do find typology quite interesting the more I look at it..........I don't know, I think I have mixed feelings about it now. Maybe I just don't have an interest in what the Bechers chose to photograph and because they didn't aim to produce beautiful images.
We looked at the works of Donovan Wylie (images at the top of this post), an Irish photographer who became the youngest ever member of Magnum Photos at the age of 26. At first, i wasn't blown away by it, however, the more we spoke about it and after watching some youtube clips of him, I became more interested as he really went into detail as to why he was photographing these things and he was really passionate about it whereas Becher's work to me, seems quite regemented and thoughtless. Wylie concentrates on the architecture of conflict. Some of his well known works include The Maze prison on Northern Ireland and British and Afghanistan watchtowers.
After learning about topography and typology, Richard set us the task of creating our own typologies. You could definately have fun in choosing what types of things to photograph as some things can be really interesting to look at and actually tell a story or get you thinking, unlike Becher's works. I chose to photograph different types of leaves. I'm quite happy with the end result because I chose subjects that are colourful and warm and it is something that I could put up on my wall as I find it aesthetically pleasing but i certainly wouldn't have chosen a series of gas tanks!!
Here is is......
(all above by Donovan Wylie)
Becher, Gastanks
The Becher's taught 'New Objectivity' photography at the Dusseldorf school which has promted an article by Grant Scott headlined 'Has the Dusseldorf School killed photography?'. In this article, Scott comments on how the Bechers and 'the disciples of the Dusseldorf school', gave the stamp of approval on a kind of work that is 'easy to do'. He believes that new photographers will look at this work and be influenced to take the easy option and stick to the comfort zone. He says 'These are photographers who have given no thought to how they are going to make a living from their photography or who they are going to work for. They are documenting for the sake of documenting'.
Becher
For me, it was good to read this article because now I know that I'm not the only one with this opinion!! Although, I do find typology quite interesting the more I look at it..........I don't know, I think I have mixed feelings about it now. Maybe I just don't have an interest in what the Bechers chose to photograph and because they didn't aim to produce beautiful images.
We looked at the works of Donovan Wylie (images at the top of this post), an Irish photographer who became the youngest ever member of Magnum Photos at the age of 26. At first, i wasn't blown away by it, however, the more we spoke about it and after watching some youtube clips of him, I became more interested as he really went into detail as to why he was photographing these things and he was really passionate about it whereas Becher's work to me, seems quite regemented and thoughtless. Wylie concentrates on the architecture of conflict. Some of his well known works include The Maze prison on Northern Ireland and British and Afghanistan watchtowers.
After learning about topography and typology, Richard set us the task of creating our own typologies. You could definately have fun in choosing what types of things to photograph as some things can be really interesting to look at and actually tell a story or get you thinking, unlike Becher's works. I chose to photograph different types of leaves. I'm quite happy with the end result because I chose subjects that are colourful and warm and it is something that I could put up on my wall as I find it aesthetically pleasing but i certainly wouldn't have chosen a series of gas tanks!!
Here is is......
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