The colors of an environmental perspective

Timo Lieber speaks about the Atacama Lithium Mine project

“I am fascinated with altered landscapes and the impact we humans have on the environment. The Atacama project is focused on an area that is undergoing significant change because of one single metal: lithium. Lithium is a vital ingredient in modern rechargeable batteries that power billions of smartphones, laptops and, increasingly, electric cars. Electric cars use approximately 5,000 times the lithium of a smartphone and demand for the metal is expected to soar as electric vehicles begin their ascent.”

“The photography series looks at the source of lithium, high up in the Atacama, the world’s driest non-polar desert. It is here, in the heart of the so-called “lithium triangle,” that some of the world’s largest reserves are and where lithium is extracted from brine pools that are so large they can be seen from space. It is an ever-changing environment, shaped by man, with a significance that expands well beyond the boundaries of this otherworldly landscape.

“I envisaged the series as an artistic body of work that will hopefully get people thinking. Not just about lithium but a greener future overall.”

“In this project, I am focusing on detail, rather than the broader scenery. Shapes, patterns, textures, and colours all play a vital role. When I research locations, it often starts with interesting shapes and patterns. Though in the case of my lithium project it was the combination of man-made structures and awesome colours that immediately caught my attention. I envisaged the series as an artistic body of work that will hopefully get people thinking. Not just about lithium but a greener future overall.”

The significance of color

“Colour is incredibly important in my work. I feel very privileged to experience some of the natural world that is often very remote and difficult to reach – may it be the vast Greenland ice sheet or a remote desert landscape like the Atacama. I am incredibly excited about being able to tell the story of these places. But for that story to be a true representation of my own experience, I rely on technology. Nothing quite yet matches the human eye and our first-hand perception of nature’s wonders. Working with the best possible sensor, however, is the closest I can bring my audience to admire the immense palette that nature has created.”

“I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the new Trichromatic back – particularly for this current series where colour is so important.”

“Phase One’s IQ3 100MP Trichromatic Digital Back has a completely redesigned sensor that is capable of capturing color in the same way as the human eye sees. Given the importance of color in Timo Lieber’s projects that document the reality of the rapidly changing environment; capturing the scenes exactly as his eyes witnessed lets the photographer share their vision without compromise, and the audience sees what they saw with a degree of accuracy like nothing before.”