Tim Parkin - Landscape Photographer

Christopher Burkett is probably the closest thing we landscape photographers have to a divine being. His commitment to photography and the beauty he an draw out of the complex in nature is sometimes staggering. Working in a manner not dissimilar to Eliot Porter, don’t expect stunning sunset clouds or rocky beaches; and forget about flowing misty rivers and gigantic waterfalls. Christopher captures the quiet side of nature. The trees and flowers, grasses and ponds are more Mr Burkett’s purview. I’m going to talk some more about Mr Burkett in the future but for now I wanted to bring a book to the attention of people who may already have seen or own his two masterpieces ‘Resplendent Light’ and ‘Intimations of Paradise’ (both available directly from Mr Burkett at http://www.christopherburkett.com/).

Seasons is a publication of poetry by Robert Frost (an American poet of no small reputation who famously spoke at Kennedy’s inauguration) and is accompanied by 65 of Christopher Burkett’s natural beauties. A few of the pictures are available in his books but the majority are new and are split between the four seasons.

The book is not in print although you can get a copy in OK quality for around £5 including delivery and a mint copy in dust jacket for around £15 or a signed limited edition leather bound in mint condition for £96 which includes brochure, artist’s statement, biography, and resume handouts (Alibris, Abe Books).

Of the pictures I have included, the tree picture is very typical of Mr Burkett’s ability to create patterns and order out of what must be one of the most complicated subjects to photograph. The close up of moss is an example of the photographer’s attention to all detail around him, sometimes finding patches of stone or wood, sometimes a starfish or even a contrail high in the sky. Most of the time his attention is drawn back to the forest or open plains. Finally, a rare vista shot from Mr Burkett to illustrate the winter section of the book where he goes beyond a simple illustrative view and captures of range of tones of snow and shadow and cloud where the whole melts together into a dreamlike consistency evoking something beyond the real.

Go find a second hand copy now and get your introduction to an extraordinary artist.

p.s. I should add that I am not a fan of poetry in general so have not felt best placed to review Robert Frost’s contribution to the book but the lack of pretension of those poems I have read is something I’ve felt is quite attractive.

NB I’ve included a couple of pictures from the book in the sidebar under ‘fair dealing’ copyright exclusion although if any objections are raised by the publisher or authors I will remove them.