Silver Lake Operations #16, Lake Lefroy, Western Australia Possibly 2007 - 2010

This photograph of Lake Lefroy in Western Australia by Edward Burtynsky captures this landscape in a way that makes me think of the possibilities of mark making. I can imagine Burtynsky seeing something similar to a painting in this environment, with its pale lake surface and dark lines like the strokes of a brush. What was he thinking when he chose this angle? Did he frame the shot to emphasize the contrast, to bring out the textures? I wonder if he was thinking about the history of abstract expressionism, of artists like Agnes Martin and Barnett Newman, who also worked with lines and fields of color? The lines aren’t just lines; they represent human intervention, industry, and the ways we reshape the earth. The rust-colored crater stands out against the white and muted tones. There is a beauty here but it is also a little scary. I see Burtynsky's work as part of an ongoing conversation about nature, industry, and the impact of our actions.