“New Topographics” refers to a movement in photography with roots in the 1950s through the 1970s (and continuing, somewhat, today) in both Germany and the United States. The focus is the difficult and complex relationship between humans and their natural surroundings…how we were affecting the landscape, sometimes positively, but more often with unintended consequences that weigh heavily on the negative side of the scale.
Robert Adams, with his clean, plain, simple–but powerful–study of suburban expansion along Colorado’s Front Range is one example of this kind of “topographic” work.
It seems to me that we need to renew the emphasis on this type of understated, yet essential, photography, despite today’s apparent lust for imagery heavily laden with drama, crisis, shock, and/or special effects.
Steadily and generally ignored, the bulldozers plow on…vegetation is scraped away…the water tables drop…farms are sold off…condos and McMansions are vomited up…ecosystems are damaged or destroyed…suburbia expands, encroaching ever more on the last refuges of the original, pre-European invasion landscape.
This is all quite logical and understandable (and desired by many with vested interests). After all, the basis of our current way of life is that the system must constantly consume and grow–or die.
What is the answer? I don’t know. But I do think photographers have a key role in calling this ongoing process (“progress”?) to the attention of the public. Thus my call for a “New New Topographic Movement” (or, Neo-Topographics, perhaps?).
These images are two examples of what will go into my slowly growing portfolio that will eventually be my personal contribution to this “New New Movement”:
Progress, American Style, #1. Near Erie, Colorado, 2015
Progress, American Style, #2. Near Erie, Colorado, 2015
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2 Comments
Hi Daniel,
Just came across your site while googling “New Topographics”.
I absolutely love your work! I see a lot of kinship in our photographic approach as The New Topographics school had and has a major influence on my work as well. Your monochromes are flawless.
Take a peek at some of my stuff when you have a minute, I believe you can see the similarities.
Group exhibit? Just kidding!
All the best,
Jens
https://www.flickr.com/photos/autobahn66/
Jens, now that I have gone through your Flickr album, I have to update and upgrade the comment I just put on your Facebook page: You have some awesome work! I’d be honored to do a group “Neo-Topo” exhibit with you! Your compositions are quite thoughtful and full of wonderful subtleties. I especially like where you often put the horizon line or what you choose to place right on the edges of the frame–very unconventional at times but really, really effective. It would be cool to have a conversation about your approach and what I see in your photographs. Last time I was down your way was in 2011 when I crewed for a guy (Dex Tooke) in the Race Across America. I will definitely look you up if I get down there again. Thanks for your nice comments and thanks for visiting! DanJ