Edward Burtynski and the Sublime
November 14th, 2009 by Laimonas
“The passion caused by the great and sublime in nature, when those causes operate most powerfully, is Astonishment, and astonishment is that state of the soul, in which all its motions are suspended, with some degree of horror … Greatness of dimension, is a powerful cause of the sublime” – Edmund Burke
Burtynski’s work deals with the notion of the sublime, using extensions such as length, height and depth in his photographs, some creating a greater effect than others. According to Burke, length has the least effect, while height and depth share similar impact on the viewer in creating the sense of sublime.
As well as vastness, there are other passions which add to the feeling of the sublime, such as terror, power, difficulty, obscurity, magnificence.
Further reading: Edmund Burke (2008). A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful. New York: Oxford University Press. 208.
http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/
Will Steacy
November 14th, 2009 by Laimonas
Down These Mean Streets … “examines fear and the abandonment of America’s inner cities. Photographing only at night with a large format view camera, I work in a set routine by walking between the airport and central business district each city I photograph. My focus is the neighborhoods which you wouldn’t want to be in at night; the part of town you drive through – not to.”
http://willsteacy.blogspot.com/