Here we go with the new format of More With Less Issue. Each time 3 images commented by the photographer. Willson Cummer is a fine-art photographer and teacher who lives near Syracuse, NY, USA. He is also the curator of New Landscape Photography, a blog that features international projects.
«In my parking garages project I explored the rooftops of these unusual urban spaces. Some city planners have argued that parking garages destroy the architectural assets of urban cores. Parking lots and garages displace street-level shops, office space and cultural centers. Those complaints may be true, but I have found unexpected visual joy in parking garages. They offer an urban version of the hikes and sublime views that lead me to the Adirondack mountains. I climb the stairwells to the top decks, often photographing multiple garages in one outing. The roofs offer unusual views of nearby buildings and far-off valleys and hills. The tops of garages are places of surprising beauty and calm.»
«My work explores the interaction between the natural world and the built environment. In my Onondaga Lake project I used a canoe to explore a Superfund cleanup site that is also a holy lake for the Onondaga Indian Nation. The lake borders Syracuse, New York. I found the lake gorgeous at times and repulsive at others. Raw sewage flows into the lake during heavy rains, as the municipal wastewater treatment plant is overwhelmed. Algae grows in the phosphorus-rich waters, giving off a stink in the summer. Mercury and other heavy metals lie on the bottom of the lake — remnants of chemical industry in years past. Swimming has been banned since 1940. Still, bald eagles have taken up residence on the lake, and great blue herons are numerous. The lake is an extreme example of much of our natural world: polluted yet still achingly beautiful.»
«In my Green Lakes project I investigated, during the off-season, areas of a state park that are normally crowded. The photographs examine the intersection of man-made elements with natural areas. The images consider the boundaries of the natural world and explore solitude and loneliness.»
© All copyright remains with photographer Willson Cummer