THE PORTRAIT OF MAN THROUGH HIS TRACE ON THE LANDSCAPE

Story - Alfonso Masoliver

Images - Alfonso Masolivier

Date - Jan 20, 2014

Most images are Road Stills. There is no narration, just inaction and silence. The absence of a narrative gives Alfonso's images a symbolic character that not only captures what is seen, but more importantly what is behind the scenery. All the images focus on the disturbance, desolation and solitude perceived behind the apparent harmony and beauty of the landscape. There is no human presence in any of my photos. This non-presence is what creates the tension. Alfonso strive's to confront our human scale to natures, longing to understand both nature’s power and vulnerability. His photographs are usually taken in a single setting and are rarely retouched after. They are "plein air" photos, as opposed to Landscape Paintings. They are spontaneous, honest to the subject, and respectful to the environment that is being photographed. They are not images of ruins, devastation, or havoc. They show desolation, solitude and remoteness in their most honest form.


Chile

These photos are part of a set taken in the Austral Spring of 2011 (November) on a road trip down the Carretera Austral, from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins. These are the result of six weeks in a Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck and 7,000 KM of dirt roads through a pristine environment.

Image: Volcan Calbuco, Las Cascadas Region, Los Lagos

Chile

Cerro Mayer, Villa OHiggins, Aysén

Chile

La Baranda, Villa OHiggins, Aysén

Ireland

Alfonso took a short tour through the Kerry countryside in August. It was complete with cold high winds, rain, fog and all you can expect when around the Irish “Withering Heights” environment. The desolate beauty made me think about the determination and strength that the natives must have had to migrate to and then survive the harshness of the land.

Image: Rath Caherdaniel County


Ireland

Rath Caherdaniel County

Ireland

Caherdaniel County, Kerry

Scandinavia

These images are from another road trip, this time in a Citroën Picasso, from Helsinki, through Lapland, Finnmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway. Nomads following the reindeer herds used to inhabit these lands, however most are no longer nomad and live in stable farming communities.

Image: Mandejärvi, Norrbottens Län, Sweden

Scandinavia

Olderdalen, Troms Fylke, Norway

Scandinavia

Talvik, Alta, Finnmark, Norway

Spain

This set is about the Country Houses in Mallorca, where Alfonso lives most of the year, called “Possessions”. These houses date as far back as the 14th Century when the island was divided by King Jaume I, who conquered the island back from the Arabs. Most of the houses are still owned by their descendants and form an incredible historical and architectural heritage.

Image: Son Berga, Alaró, Mallorca

Spain

Son Marroig, Deià, Mallorca

USA

On the road again … this time driving from Chicago through Wisconsin’s farmland. These images are part of a set taken during late winter on a four-week tour of the area, embedding myself into the farming communities. It is surprising to see the high level of Scandinavian influence in America. All was romantically European, yet fully American.

Image: Hwy 73 between Marshall and Columbus, WI

USA

Hwy 82 near NW Prairie, WI

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