HDR Further Research- Edward Burtnsky- Urban Renewal Series

Urban Renewal #4,
Old City Overview, Shanghai, 2004

Urban Renewal #5,
City Overview From Top of Military Hospital, Shanghai, 2004

Although this series of photographs by Edward Burtnsky aren't HDR images they are visual documentations of a Chinese urban landscape which is rich in detail and depth and because of the way Burtnsky has framed and composed the scene he is implying and commenting on the congested environment which suggests an idea of entrapment within this urban jungle. As you analyse the contents of the scene it is clear the difference and contrast within the city from the tower blocks and skyscrapers to the small houses and buildings that tower and engulf them. Although rich in architecture which must contain a large volume of inhabitants the scene is devoid of obvious life, understandable considering the distance, vantage point and scale of the scene, but still this suggests to me a deeper connotation of the cities inhabitants entrapment and loss within the city that they live and a disassociation is evident between the people and the place in which they live. This comparison in the scene in terms of scales and the relationship between the place and it's inhabitants is conceptually presented allowing the viewer to ponder and consider components within the scene and question the. I feel I could translate similar methodologies into my own work by strictly composing the scene from a high vantage point I could suggest to the viewer that they should carefully consider the components before coming to a reading of the environment/place.