The British Journal of Photography (BJP), in partnership with DJI, announced two winners of their DJI Drone Photography Award. The winners are Spain-based photographer Markel Redondo and Germany-based photographer Tom Hegen. Markel submitted a self-assigned project, originally photographed in 2009-2012, entitled Sand Castles.
Sand Castles is a photo series capturing abandoned infrastructure in Spain. The series began after the financial crisis commenced in 2008. Over the course of three years, Markel researched and photographed empty buildings, forgotten places, and construction plans. However, the property bubble crash and other economic calamities indefinitely put these projects on pause. Approaching each setting with a fine art aesthetic, Markel reflects on what these deserted structures convey about the country’s present state of being.
In Spain, they (the politicians) tell us that the financial crisis is over, that the country is recovering economically. But I feel that these abandoned areas have a story to tell by themselves, a story about our times and about Spain.
While this project wrapped in 2012, Markel has always intended to revisit and document how each location has evolved over the past six years. Meanwhile, Markel took drone courses to get his license. The announcement of the BJP/DJI award allowed Markel to expand on his new aerial photography skills. He also got the opportunity to pick up again with Sand Castles.
Perspective is everything, and Markel knows that there are certain limitations when trying to photograph the immensity of abandoned infrastructure plans. The national economic crisis they reflect is hard to capture from the ground. He has already returned to some of the locations and observed no improvements, however, now he’s eager to see what aerial images will reveal.
The idea is to revisit the places I photographed, look for some new ones and create a comprehensive documentation of these modern ruins that lay all around Spain.
With the award comes a new DJI Phantom Pro Drone. It also includes additional project support, including mentorship by Guardian photographer Graeme Robertson. Though Markel has only recently begun building his aerial portfolio, his experience as a photographer and passion for Sand Castles have prepared him to propel this series forward.
Markel plans to begin shooting this project in early 2018. In March, his work will be displayed in a major London gallery, but Markel doesn’t intend to stop there. He looks forward to seeing where else Sand Castles will take him and how the project will evolve over the coming year.
See more of Markel’s photography on his website.
Further Reading
Read more articles about Markel Redondo.
Read more articles about Architecture photography.
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