For over 30 years, Olaf Otto Becker has documented the changes inflicted on natural landscapes by human activity. Becker has photographed disappearing rainforests as well as the fragile landscapes of Greenland and the Arctic, making careful studies of icebergs and glaciers.
Olaf Otto Becker Prints For Sale (14):
Artist Biography
Olaf Otto Becker
Germany
B. 1959
EnquireOlaf Otto Becker was born in Lübeck-Travemünde, Germany, in 1959. Initially exploring German landscapes, Becker soon began travelling further afield to develop his photographic practice. In particular, the artist was drawn to Iceland and Greenland due to the spectacular quality of light and vast wild landscapes. There, Becker aimed to find environments that had minimal human interference. The artist claims, “I was interested in a wild, unspoiled landscape. I was interested in a place where the landscape developed on its own.”
Photographic Career
Becker’s recent series ‘Ilulissat’ (2003-2017) continues to confront environmental issues, as he photographed the monumental icebergs that border the coastal settlement of Ilulissat in Greenland. The photographs in the series meditate on the colour, light and scale of dramatic Arctic landscapes. Becker’s other projects include: ‘Reading the Landscape’ (2008-2014), ‘Under the Nordic Light – A Journey through Time’ (1999-2011), ‘Above Zero’ (2007-2008), and ‘Broken Line’ (2003-2006).
Exhibitions and Awards
Olaf Otto Becker is a regular contributor to the New York Times Magazine. His first publication Under the Nordic Light (2005) was nominated for the Recontres D’Arles Book award. He has been nominated twice for the Prix Pictet award in both 2008 and 2012. His work has been exhibited internationally in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States.
