Landscape 1st Place

This series explores a remote area of Kazakhstan known as ‘The Polygon’, which was once home to the Soviet Union’s major nuclear testing facilities. Between 1949 and 1989 more than 450 nuclear tests took place here, with little regard for their effect on the local people and environment. The full impact of radiation exposure was hidden for many years by the Soviet authorities and only became clear after the test site was closed in the early 1990s. The location is still heavily contaminated and can only be accessed in protective clothing. The images in this series were made using an infrared camera, which hints at a menace that is equally invisible to the human eye: the radiation resulting from the nuclear explosions. Local scientists employ infrared technology to assess the current conditions of contaminated sites. Green vegetation, reflects a significant amount of infrared light, allowing for a nuanced analysis of environmental health. The varying shades of reflection yield valuable insights into the overall toxicity of this irradiated landscape. Notably, foliage emerges as the primary concern in these locations due to its absorption of radiative particles from deeper layers of soil, making it a focal point for potential environmental hazards.

Eddo Hartmann, born in The Hague in 1973, studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. He is a Dutch photographer with a career that has spanned over 25 years. Hartmann is renowned for capturing striking and thought-provoking images of architecture and urban spaces. Initially, he started his career as a commercial and editorial photographer but later shifted towards long-term documentary projects. One of his most notable works is "Setting The Stage | North Korea," which is a series that documents the intricately designed communist capital of Pyongyang. In addition to his photographic work, Hartmann is also a lecturer in The Hague, where he teaches technical skills and visual grammar. He is committed to capturing the impact of human activity on the planet and its landscapes. Hartmann's work has been widely exhibited and published in newspapers and magazines around the world, and can be found in private and public collections. Currently based in Amsterdam, where he continues to work as a freelance photographer.