In the third part of his history of photography in Britain Eamonn McCabe looked at the work of Mishka Henner. Henner is a Belgian artist whose work reflects the concerns of photographic artists in the internet age. ‘He has been described by some as a modern-day Duchamp for his appropriation of image-rich technologies including Google Earth, Google Street View, and YouTube, and for his adoption of print-on-demand as a means to bypass traditional publishing models.’ (Wikipedia)
This sent me looking at ways these technologies might add to the Beechwoods project. Google Earth gives fine aerial views of the woods, bringing out their distinctive shape and relationship with the surrounding landscape of open fields and a golf course. Comparing the 1945 image with one taken recently shows not only how the Beechwoods have changed, principally through the new planting along the west side, but also, in a wider view, the changed patchwork of fields and the relationship with advancing urban area of Cambridge.
It’s a reminder not to forget the old technologies. My interest in the woods can’t be new: there must be earlier sketches, paintings, prints and photographs, not to mention maps and reflection in prose and poetry. A trip to the Cambridgeshire Collection is overdue.
Photos: Google Earth 1945 & 2008; Beechwoods, March 2017