Edward Burtynsky,
Shipyard #7, Qili Port, Zhejiang Province, China, 2005, Dye-coupler print Gift of the artist, 2006 (49-014.36)
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Secondary Programs: Edward Burtynsky
Biography
Born in St. Catharines, Ontario in 1955, Edward Burtynsky formed an early interest in photography. He helped his father to set up a darkroom, and together they learned about taking and developing pictures. He studied graphic arts at Niagara College and then photography at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Ryerson University). Childhood camping trips sparked his interest in the landscape, and the experience of seeing a huge mining area as an adult helped to define his approach: the impact of industry on the land is a theme that he has pursued through various series to the present.
Burtynsky uses a view camera, a large-format camera whose negatives usually measure 4" x 5". He sets up the camera on a tripod and views the scene on a glass screen, his head covered by a black cloth, before shooting. This methodical approach allows him to slow down and carefully study what he sees; the resulting prints have great clarity of detail, even for panoramic landscapes.
Edward Burtynsky is an award-winning photographer whose work is represented in many major collections. He donated 47 prints to the Agnes Etherington Art Centre in 2006.
Images and Information
Teaching About Photography and the Environment
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This online resource on Edward Burtynsky was created by:
Jo-Anne Lachapelle-Beyak, Public Programs Assistant, and Pat Sullivan, Public Programs Officer
Consultant: Alan Wilkinson, Adjunct Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Queen's University
Webmaster: Matthew Hills
Supported by the Ontario Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture through the Arts Education Partnership Initiative administered by the Ontario Arts Foundation. We are grateful to the following supporters, whose contributions to the Arts Education Partnership Initiative have made this program possible: J. P. Bickell Foundation, Jeri and Dolf Harmsen, The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation, Nathan Kaufman, Kincore Holdings Limited, Justin & Elisabeth Lang Foundation, and a donor through the Community Foundation of Greater Kingston.
Edward Burtynsky: Material World
28 June to 19 October 2008
Presenting sponsor: TD Bank Financial Group