1st place
gold star award
Olivier Robert
france 
title
Fragments of Lakes
Over time, the traces left by humans above the water deeply affect the perception of the landscape one can have. Somehow, they are the witnesses of the past or of customs and bring a real added-value to the way we are enjoying the waterscapes.
Once they are no longer in use, these elements are rarely taken to pieces but rather left abandoned.
Slowly, the man-made structures become the indicators of the passing time until they have totally disappeared.
Beyond the reasons why these constructions were built, they affect drastically the subjective eye. They redefine the shape of the shores, they create scale effect and become the landscape in itself. Strangely enough, they steer the spectators not to see them anymore while gazing at the lakes.
To me, these objects are more constructive elements than disruptive ones. This ‘unwitting aesthetics’ contributes unintentionally to the beauty of the lakes and deeply calls me to mind.
Consequently, my work consists in highlighting these constructions. Using long exposures affords me a subjective way to complete this expression.
Little by little, this continuous project has been built in many places in Europe and in Japan where the Lake Biwa has become an important place of inspiration for many years among my different projects about this country.
In 1994, he graduated from the Institute of Landscape Architecture in Belgium and left his native country for Switzerland. As he arrived in the Lake Geneva region in 1995, he started a photographic work about the lake. This project is still continuing 20 years after and has pushed him into visiting many other lakes in the world. Since 2004, he has devoted his work almost exclusively to landscapes and waterscapes using mainly long exposures.
For his continuous projects as well as family reasons, he often gets thoroughly across Japan.
This approach has led him to the most remote places of the archipelago, through mountains, temples and shrines about which he has also carried out a photographic project on Buddhist statuary and sacred art for years.
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entry description
My project ‘Fragments of Lakes’ started in 1995 on the shores of Lake Geneva (Léman), Switzerland. It depicts a personal approach about the esthetically pleasing value of the man-made objects built on the lakeshores and the way they pertain to the landscapes.Over time, the traces left by humans above the water deeply affect the perception of the landscape one can have. Somehow, they are the witnesses of the past or of customs and bring a real added-value to the way we are enjoying the waterscapes.
Once they are no longer in use, these elements are rarely taken to pieces but rather left abandoned.
Slowly, the man-made structures become the indicators of the passing time until they have totally disappeared.
Beyond the reasons why these constructions were built, they affect drastically the subjective eye. They redefine the shape of the shores, they create scale effect and become the landscape in itself. Strangely enough, they steer the spectators not to see them anymore while gazing at the lakes.
To me, these objects are more constructive elements than disruptive ones. This ‘unwitting aesthetics’ contributes unintentionally to the beauty of the lakes and deeply calls me to mind.
Consequently, my work consists in highlighting these constructions. Using long exposures affords me a subjective way to complete this expression.
Little by little, this continuous project has been built in many places in Europe and in Japan where the Lake Biwa has become an important place of inspiration for many years among my different projects about this country.
about the photographer
Olivier Robert is a professional photographer and landscape architect sharing his life between Europe and Japan. His approach is based on a minimalist expression for more than 25 years. Initiated very early into the world of photography and dark room, he got his first camera at the age of 15.In 1994, he graduated from the Institute of Landscape Architecture in Belgium and left his native country for Switzerland. As he arrived in the Lake Geneva region in 1995, he started a photographic work about the lake. This project is still continuing 20 years after and has pushed him into visiting many other lakes in the world. Since 2004, he has devoted his work almost exclusively to landscapes and waterscapes using mainly long exposures.
For his continuous projects as well as family reasons, he often gets thoroughly across Japan.
This approach has led him to the most remote places of the archipelago, through mountains, temples and shrines about which he has also carried out a photographic project on Buddhist statuary and sacred art for years.
back to gallery
