Manufactured Landscapes

Last night a documentary about Edward Burtynsky was shown on Sky Arts- especially his "Manufactured Landscapes" work. I've been catching up with it this evening (thanks Sky Plus...). I have to say that although the photos are very good, and often very thought provoking as well, they have made me think deeply about what we want out of modern society. Pollution in all its senses - environmental as well as individual - is very prevalent in his work.

But the documentary is far too long. It didn't really know what it was for - a social justice documentary or about the artist. In trying to serve both audiences, my feeling is that it failed to satisfy both.

Here is the trailer for the film....

Book Review - Vulcan 607

Vulcan 607 by Rowland White

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've known of this raid for years, and also the other raids in the "Black Buck" series. This book brings it all home how such a close run thing it was to make the mission succeed. The book doesn't just concentrate on the Vulcan crew, but many of those involved in the planning of the mission, and also the intimate involvement of the Victor crews.



In a planning sense, the need to build in contingency after contingency is highlighted by the plan unravelling during the flight from Ascension to the Falklands, and the flexibility and bravery of those implementing it in enabling the mission to succeed.



One small point is that, personally, I would have liked to hear more about the subsequent raids, but I understand why the author decided to concentrate on the initial raid - the one that got all the headlines.



Finally, not many books have been for me "unputdownable" over the past few years. This was. Praise indeed!!!


View all my reviews.