New Topographics - Photographic landscapes

THIS VIDEO: A visual language that changed landscape photography and the way that we see the world. The 1975 exhibition of the same name transformed art photography from the pictoral view to this modernist, parred-down approach. Photographers like Robert Adams, Lewis Baltz, Joe Deal and Frank Gohlke focussed on the man-altered landscapes that encroach into the natural landscape.
ABOUT ME: The conversations focus on topics related to different aspects of photography including: art, documentary and photojournalism. The discussions explore the personal experiences of photographers and artists and how their work reflects both their internal and external landscape. During the past 30 years I have photographed in over 50 countries for magazines including National Geographic, Time, New York Times and Newsweek. I have held solo exhibitions in New York, London and Paris and my work is showcased in private and institutional art collections around the world.
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[@petemc5070]

Lewis Baltz was a visiting lecturer to my photography course where I was a student around 1980. The work he showed was met with a wall of indifference, would be a polite way of putting it. A week or two after he left I spent time in the library looking at his 'New Industrial Parks' and 'Park City' books and had an epiphany. When I heard he died in 2014 I wept like a child for a parent.

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi Pete I think it must have been hard for them, because they were photographic pioneers, but they subject matter and aesthetic wasn't really accessible to many. A lasting experience for you, I would think.

[@seoirseosial]

Excellent video of my favourite photographic topic. I loved it. Great pictures at the end, btw.

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks George.

[@laytonburton1961]

Your images of South Africa are both bold in composition and dripping with emotion. I loved them. Love your channel- a faithful fan.

[@PhotoConversations]

I appreciate that Layton.

[@SlavaVeres]

One of my favourite themes in modern and contemporary photography ♥️ Thanks for this video!

[@rafograph4714]

Great insights. Thank you for sharing

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@carver1717]

Very interestingly told story of the New Topographics exhibition. For anyone who's new to this field, I'd like to add the name of Henry Wessel to the names mentioned in the video. And thank you for giving Lewis Baltz's response to the question I'm frequently asked: "Why don't you have people in your photographs? They'd be more interesting, you know." :)

[@michaelvr8973]

Excellent presentation of the "New Topographics", if I may call it a movement. Lewis Baltz was a pioneer and his aesthetic makes me think about abstraction. The point you make about what's in the mind of these photographers is very true, I think. The fact that you are a photographer makes a difference and helps understanding that their inner motivations. There is a kind of redemption about turning the banal into something meaningful, or beautiful. That's what photography is all about, in my personal opinion. What you said about the Urbex phenomena is so right, too. A nostalgia that in this particular case feeds on despair, it opens no doors except melancholia. Beautiful images at the end, bravo. I like the statue on the parking lot ;-)

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi Michael yes, I do think that there is some form of redemption to be found there...or maybe we shoula all be out there taking pretty landscape pictures!!

[@michaels7889]

For a long period of my professional life I had to make photographs of this environmental deterioration in order to try and initiate remedial measures. It was rather despairing at times looking at those images. Now I try to avoid this aspect of photography and focus on what I perceive as more positive survivals. I was never aware of this movement in photography. Sad admission in view of my later research. What is interesting now is that we have become immured to much of the message these images convey, since so much modernist photography tends to focus on even more sordid aspects of the visual world. Presenting it in this way reignites the original response. I had never considered making it an aesthetic. These short visual essays of yours are very enlightening.

[@petertschantz7601]

excellent treatment of the subject. I'm a new photographer and just learned of Robert Adams. The algorithm was kind to me, and brought me here.

[@grahamrichards8531]

Thank you for this - very relevant for a project I am planning this summer (New Zealand).

[@omegamanz6]

I have been unconsciouly drifting towards this type of photography through Robert Adams as an extension to my interest in Brutalist Russian style architecture, I had no idea until now that it had a name. Thanks so much.

[@PhotoConversations]

I'm glad that I shone a little light. Once one sees the aesthetic, it is impossible to un-see.

[@jennyhirschowitz1999]

“The lack of human presence …” as you say……. Prescient today in the ugly parking yards of big box stores and nearby luxury ghetto gated “estates”. I’m photographing this emptiness in my travels……. Miss Jenny

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi Jenny Thanks. Send me a link - I am interested to see.

[@jztouch]

Nice. Enjoyed the discussion of the originators of the genre as well as the comparison of the subject of nostalgia in photos of decay. I agree they lack the power of the others. They’re lacking in mood somehow. I also enjoyed your photos and the accompanying music. I especially enjoyed the photo of the picnic table in the brush with the industrial buildings in the background. Such a lonely image.

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks! I love completely out of touch things - like the picnic table - who would want to eat their lunch looking at that iron smelter?

[@tomasnovotny4108]

@@PhotoConversations I think that to finish the art you should do the opposite and eat there. Otherwise it's just exploitation of the poor table.

[@richardsimms251]

Excellent video. Thank you. RS. Canada

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks Richard

[@joycourtney]

Just getting into the New Topographic photographers, having not regarded their work for many years. Thank you for your interesting overview. Again, I really like your photographs

[@PhotoConversations]

Many thanks Joy

[@markielinhart]

Thanks for this, I see my photographic style in so many of these images. Now it has a name and I think it’s my tribe✌️🇦🇺

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi Markielin Welcome to the tribe!

[@faramartianolasco217]

thanks for this enlightening segment. cheers to more!

[@robertpearson]

I am glad I have discovered your channel, thank you for these insights.

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks Robert

[@mikskinner6431]

I've come across this term only as a hashtag attached to images of people I follow in Instagram. I've never clicked on the tag so had no idea what it referred to. Until now! And hey presto... I now have a title, or pigeon hole, to many of the images I create, alongside urban landscape, banalography, and street. Thanks for the education and entertainment.

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi Mik Glad I was of assistance!

[@writerman242]

Absolutely riveting Thank you I'm very impressed by the New Topographics And the Pond which I discovered a couple of years ago has had a huge impact on my work. I agree completely about the recent splitting into so many little sub genres And with the social media boom it's even more pronounced and has turned into a competition and hashtag war haha. Anyway thank you again Just about to click subscribe 👍👍

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi Paul Thanks so much for your response. I really liked your Melbourne street photography videos.

[@writerman242]

@@PhotoConversations ah thanks Graeme They're old now But thank you for watching

[@thomaseriksson6256]

That is what I'm trying to learn, how to mix photojournalist with fine art woodland photography. I become paralyzed by my ambitions and lack of quality in what I produce and fall back into wondering what piece of equipment I need to improve or how much more art theory I need to learn. Maybe the most important thing that I forget is to go out and practice my skills in the field. I looose fluency with my equipment and PS due to l lack of use

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi Thomas You are not alone. Start thinking small - set some boundaries to your essay and work really hard to create something worthwhile within those boundaries. Good luck

[@thomaseriksson6256]

@@PhotoConversations Thank you for the feedback