Considering assignment 3 A space that becomes a place work I made earlier this year has to begin by discussing how it came about. I had attended a lecture about seascapes and had listened to a description of Peter Breugel the elders “Landscape with the fall of Icarus”.

As I started make images I wanted to make the point Breugel had in regard to mans folly, both technologically and politically. I thought the Poem written by William Carlos (1962) would be an appropriate accompaniment. Near completion of the work a Chilean Navy C130 aircraft crashed ten miles in front of our vessel taking 38 maintenance engineers and crew with it. This changed the whole context of my work instantly.

I fought with the ethical position of the work but decided it was fitting to carry on after all we think we have over come nature every time we fly in an aircraft. So I continued.

My camera was set with a quick shutter speed to freeze the water and the Albatross, even the snow would add to the image. To get the correct image I chose a bird and followed it panning with it until it was in position in regard to a wave. The project is made of 12 images accompanied by the words of the poem. I feel the work shows exactly what I set out to capture, in fact what happened strengthens the purpose.

The images are strong and clear showing the different aspects of the sea. I like the varied colour and the varied moods of the ocean. The bird adds a second element with its fragility in before the elements.

I could have captured a bird on the water to finish the project but wasn’t lucky enough to see this so could not capture this. I am pleased I resisted using a zoom to get detail the wider images show space and hint at the precarious nature of these birds and this place.

In Breugel`s painting he clearly shows the indifference of man to the suffering of others. This tragedy in the frigid water was all but ignored by the worlds press. It took me hours to find any information when I got back home. So these souls and their plight were ignored just like Icarus.

Overall I am pleased with this project and how it was constructed I dedicate it to the lost people from the aircraft.

Breugel, Peter. Landscape with the Fall of Icarus. 1560. Oil on Wood, 73.5 by 112 centimetres. Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium.

 Carlos, William. Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, 1962.