The photographs of Oil by Edward Burtynsky

Edward Burtynsky has spent 15 years photographing oil ; from the fields where it is sourced, to the cars it powers, to the detritus it leaves behind. His photographs poetic and stunning, portray a reality few of us know, and unfortunately in this case, fewer of us realise. Shocking the altered landscapes as may seem, they are unavoidably recognised as the doing of man ; nature was rarely involved.

Oil Field, Bakersfield, California

Oil Field, Socar, Azerbaijan

In Byrtynski’s words :

“Nature transformed through industry is a predominant theme in my work. I set course to intersect with a contemporary view of the great ages of man; from stone, to minerals, oil, transportation, silicon, and so on. To make these ideas visible I search for subjects that are rich in detail and scale yet open in their meaning. Recycling yards, mine tailings, quarries and refineries are all places that are outside of our normal experience, yet we partake of their output on a daily basis.”

Dismantling the Tankers, Bangladesh

Dismantling the Tankers, Bangladesh

“These images are meant as metaphors to the dilemma of our modern existence; they search for a dialogue between attraction and repulsion, seduction and fear. We are drawn by desire - a chance at good living, yet we are consciously or unconsciously aware that the world is suffering for our success. Our dependence on nature to provide the materials for our consumption and our concern for the health of our planet sets us into an uneasy contradiction. For me, these images function as reflecting pools of our times.”

BP Oil Spill, gulf of Mexico, April 2010

Burtynsky, photographs the calamity for nature, caused by man. He visits mines and quarries, goes where production is heavy in Australia and China. Visit his page for more information and a wealth of beautiful imagery.