The High View

THE HIGH VIEW | pursuing nature | TOURISM REGARDED

The narrative of our times demands that artists deal with concerns regarding immigration, disadvantaged groups, precarious living conditions, gender relations, oppressed peoples, war and or climate change.

Of course these are all honourable and important topics

However I prefer to focus on an aspect of our society that is more particular for many people and a subject most people can relate to; tourism!

At some point we all are tourists and for instance go to the Alps for our holidays.

The impact of tourism, particularly the impact it has on the landscape of the mountain regions of Central Europe interest me very much.

The Alps are were urban people go to play, indulge their fantasies and relax.

Tourism has altered the landscape of the Alps dramatically. Without tourism there would be almost no economic base for living and or working in the mountains.

The Alps are more accessible than ever before. Through railways, roads, tunnels and a variety of cable cars every corner and mountaintop is now, more than ever before in any season easily within reach of the tourist.

We think about the Alps as lovely and benign.

Actually they can be dangerous, inhospitable and hostile.

I look at all these developments with admiration, criticism, indignation, wonder and desire.

I, the photographer, the artist and the tourist.   

My photographs are taken with an analogue 4×5” large format camera.

Which is a time consuming, slow and meditative process.