My investigation studies the detrimental impact humans have when they encroach on nature, through scars they leave on the environment. Much of my inspiration is from New Topographics photographer Robert Adams, whose photographs balanced human development with the land on which it took place. I chose landscape photographs to tell my story because I find it creates the most jarring juxtaposition. My intent is to shock the viewer by comparing vast and rugged scenery to the unflattering marks left by humans. This investigation of scarred landscapes ties back to a much more personal story. I want to lead the viewer down the same path I took as I investigated the superfund site that abuts my father’s yard. The land, which seems at first to be a pristine natural area, is haunted by the toxic dump that lives below it. The sequence of my photos is designed to draw the viewer towards more critical analysis of the scenes they see. The first images show very distinct scars, gradually becoming more hidden within the landscape. My final photos require a moment to find the scars. This is to encourage the viewer to question less noticeable impacts on the landscape such as a ski resort or logging.
