Research landscape/environmental photographers

Marc Wilson

Marc Wilson is one of my favourite documentary landscape photographers. He creates visually beautiful landscape pieces in an informative, historical way. 

The Last Stand (images below)

Award winner at 2012 Terry O’Neill Awards.

Strudland Bay, Dorset 2011

Lossiemouth, Scotland 2011

Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland 2011

Wissant, Nord-Pas-De-Calias, France 2012

Source: http://marcwilson.co.uk

These images are from a set of 44 taken between 2010 and 2013. 

They reflect and document some of the physical remnants of the Second World War on the coastlines of the British Isles and northern Europe, Focusing on military defence structures that remain and their place in the shifting landscape that surrounds them. 

I like how they were not digitally manipulated in any way, but the longer exposure time really gives the first image that haunted, historic effect. 

As well as 'The Last Stand' project, Marc also created a 'Abandoned' project. 

These images were taken in 2003 and 2004, taking a glimpse at now abandoned locations of social and historical interest.

Research landscape/environmental photographers

Didier Ruef 

A Swiss documentary photographer best known for his portrayal of Man & Waste, Africa and Switzerland.

Ruef obtained a diploma in photojournalism at the International Centre of Photography in New York in 1986.

He has worked on various stories on the human condition in black & white and colour. 

Ruef has worked with various companies, such as: Network Photographers Agency in London; Swiss photo agency, Pixsil and he is also represented by the photo agencies Cosmos, in France; Luz Photo Agency Visum in Germany and Bildbyran Silver in Scandinavia.

The following photo's are from the 'Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina' project. - 2005

'The uniform of the american soldier York stands on a coathanger in a house's ruins.-2005'

'Lenny Trollman is a homeless who lives in his car. He lays on the front seat and smokes a cigarette. He has refused to leave the town and stayed during and after the storm even if the area is empty and most of its inhabitants have left the city. -2005'

'Due to massive floating of the tidal surge (water wave), casinos barges are destroyed or hurled hundred of feet away from their anchorage points.'

Source: http://didierruef.photoshelter.com

Three different style images, showing the impact of life changing natural disaster.
I'm personally not a fan of using the black and white, in some cases it working but not all. The last image, I believe was taken using HDR, might have worked better using a colour image.

Research landscape/environmental photographers

Munem Wasif

Munem is an eminent documentary photographer in Bangladesh and has been represented by Agence Vu since 2008.

He started his photographic career as a feature photographer for the Daily Star, a leading English daily in Bangladesh

He's won countless awards and grants worldwide such as the Prix Pictet commission in 2008  and Sea Waters Tears in Chobimela, international festival of photography in 2009. 

Wasif illustrates the changes occurring in the far south-west of Bangladesh. He travelled the area on a motorcycle and took photographs of the inhabitants he encountered.

A young woman covered with a blanket who sits in front of a loam hut, clearly feeling unwell.

He portrayed two women waiting for their pitchers to be filled with fresh water from the only filters in the area.

Here three brothers pushing their boats,  with only the jerrycans filled with fresh water they had collected inland as cargo, through low tide into the sea.

Source: http://www.munemwasif.com/

The collection of images above are documenting the ecological changes in the Bay of Bengal.
In the most densely populated land in the world, where every inch of usable land is needed, country tidal waves occur and coastal erosion is accelerating; salty seawater invades the land causing it to become brackish, hence it's barren state.

The black and white images show just how catastrophic the flooding influences the daily life in Bangladesh.  

They are only three of many however my three favourite. I believe they really capture the effect these events have on the health of the population, the lack of water and the effects of the land. 

Munem was said to have been riding around on a motorcycle so I assume the only equipment he used would have been a camera and a tripod.
I believe he used High Dynamic Range photography, as on his website the tones are extremely vivid, really creating and intense collections of images.