When it comes to photographers who have amassed humongous amounts of incredible work over a thirty years it can be a little mind blowing trying to take it all in. On scale alone Burtynsky has probably covered more ground than any other photographer working with work concerning the environment, consumption, and stripping the world of its recourses. But this is why the film Manufactured Landscapes is good as it helps to take in the work slowly, rather than trying to digest it all in one go as you might do if you visit the photographers gallery before hand as I did.
After the film there was a small discussion with the writer and critic Francis Hodgson, whom I have a lot of time for, especially after he wrote such a wonderful review of my House Martin and the Cinema show way back in 2009 (or was it 2010). What intrigued me most here was that Francis mentioned that in Burtynsky's earlier work it was just one man and a camera. No assistants, no helicopters, and a body of work that many landscape photographers were totally jealous of. Indeed, this was the work that first got me onto Tynsky and still my favorite to day. I don't think for a minute think that the more recent work, done with a team of people and helicopters is any less, as it is in fact very much more, its just easier to put oneself in the imaginary scenario of a Burtynsky landscape and the images are more within reach.