Photography and the Environment

We have fallen a bit behind our initial schedule - judging by how many of you are late posting the last assignment I have to assume work overload. So, to be flexible, I will combine the topics of politics and documentary for after the break. Before you go off on break, though, we will quickly look at ideas about Photography and the Environment, especially since some of you are heading off to Tassie.

Many of you have seen the excellent ABC Documentary about Olegas Truchanas and Peter Dombrovskis called "Wildness".  If you haven't seen it, please watch it in the library - it is a two DVD set, one of them is the doco on these photographers and the other is on wilderness photography in general. It is being held in reserve at the loans desk, so you can only watch it in library.

You can also find many of their images here.

Their photographs certainly changed policy in Tasmania, and thanks to the beautiful images the Franklin river was saved. But the battles in Tassie continue, and there are many places where you can see some examples of photography and environmental activism, such as:

http://weblog.greenpeace.org/tasmania/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/campaigns-saving-tasmania-forests.php
http://tasmaniasforests.com.au/getinvolved/getinvolved.html

Think about how photography can help or hinder these campaigns. Post some images that you find particularly compelling - that would make you join a particular cause - or if you do not find any, discuss what might constitute a moving environmental image (they do not have to be only about Tasmania).

Finally, read Tim Bonyhady's short piece titled "When a picture packs a punch".  What are his arguments about the beautiful environmental photographs of Dombrovskis? Do you agree?  What happens when some part of nature needs to be saved but is not photogenic or pretty, or appealing environmentally?  Post your thoughts on your blogs.  And, for those of you going to Tassie, have a great trip and come back with lots of good photographs!