3rd place
bronze star award
Olivier Robert
france 
title
Léman
Over time, the traces left by humans above the water deeply affect the perception of the landscape one can have. Somehow, they are the witness of the past or of customs and bring a real added-value to the way we enjoy the waterscapes.
To me, these objects are more constructive elements than disruptive ones. This ‘unwitting aesthetics’ contributes unintentionally to the beauty of these waterscapes.
Living alongside this beautiful lake for more than 20 years, I have regularly spent time to capture the most inspiring lights over these constructions.
In 2015, this work was exhibited at the Lake Geneva Museum in Switzerland as a retrospective exhibition and has been published in a book.
Nowadays, only 3% of the Lake Geneva shores are still wild and preserved. I would like this project to be also a witness of the unbridled urbanisation of the lakeshore…
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
This project started in 1995 on the shores of Lake Geneva (Léman) where I live. It depicts a personal approach about the esthetically pleasing value of the objects built or abandoned on the shores 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 witness of the past or of customs and bring a real added-value to the way we enjoy the waterscapes.
To me, these objects are more constructive elements than disruptive ones. This ‘unwitting aesthetics’ contributes unintentionally to the beauty of these waterscapes.
Living alongside this beautiful lake for more than 20 years, I have regularly spent time to capture the most inspiring lights over these constructions.
In 2015, this work was exhibited at the Lake Geneva Museum in Switzerland as a retrospective exhibition and has been published in a book.
Nowadays, only 3% of the Lake Geneva shores are still wild and preserved. I would like this project to be also a witness of the unbridled urbanisation of the lakeshore…
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
