blotbook:

© All images - Brandt M., 2010

Matthew Brandt continues his experimentation in photography with recent project - ‘Lakes and Reservoirs.’

The premise underwhich this project functions, acts to juxtapose the ‘real’ and what we see. Brandt has carefully controlled and created a unique method of production which has allowed the creation of a series of intriguing and engaging images.

We perhaps first notice the prominence of degredation within the images, which through the striking colours produced creates a certain level of aesthetic enticement. Looking further into the images we see the meticulous approach to composition Brandt has taken with each location. Beautiful lakes and mountain scapes fall in and out of frame in accordance to the classic rule of thirds, and other such ‘classic’ composition techniques.Nevertheless in the treatment of the C-Print afterwards, these images are quickly transported away from the typical glossy-calendar-scene image.

To create these effects, the photographer collected water from each lake or reservoir he photographed. Which was then used to soak the print for a given period of time - the effects of which we can see in the images above. It is the specific process that enhances a visual interaction between notions of representation and the real, the location itself and what we are shown. 

‘They are circumstances of a Lakes’ image that meets its real substance.’  M. Brandt 

- http://www.matthewbrandt.com