Manufactured Landscapes
A documentary of version of Edward Burtynsky’s books Manufactured Landscapes and China came out recently. The books and film follow Burtynsky as he captures the landscapes as affected by human activity. He travels to quarries, factories, dams and cities to find images of such horrific beauty — stunning and alien to what most people see in their lives.
His photography is not inherently political, neither pro-environment nor anti-industry — the images are not didactic, rather narrative allowing the viewer to fill in the details and context. The series of 
images feel as if a beginning of conversation about humans and the environment, and it is up to the viewer to decide where the conversation will go.
The books are wonderful addition to anyone interested in photography or the environment, but they cannot match the power of his large scale photography in galleries, well worth the time to visit.
View the Manufactured Landscapes trailer or visit Burtynsky’s site.
