Beth A. Gilbert's photographs are
primarily landscape based, dealing with the environment and the ways in which
human beings affect it. One major influence reflected in the subject matter of her photographs is her interest and background in political science. Her images have
also been inspired by the work of Jem Southam, whose photographs capture a
balance of the natural landscape and the intervention of man within it,
following the cycles of decay and renewal, documenting the changes over days,
months and years.
 |
| Trench Entrance, Ramat Rachel, Jerusalem, Israel 2010 Beth A. Gilbert © 2012 |
Since the focus of Beth's imagery
relies heavily on society and civilization’s impact upon the environment, she is
sensitive to her process being as non-invasive as possible- staying true to the
unaltered landscape. She has a desire for her photographs to be ‘pure’, as in true
to the original medium. Beth's employment of a traditional tool of landscape
photography, the 4x5 camera, and using minimal alterations to compliment her
ideology fits in well with her artistic expression and vision. In 2010, she
decided to take her ventures in photography further, and extended her vision to
Israel.
 |
| Barbed Wire Thicket, Dead Sea, Israel 2010 Beth A. Gilbert © 2012 |
 |
| Debris, IDF Firing Zone, Gamla, Israel 2010 Beth A. Gilbert © 2012 |
The photographs in this
series entitled Scarred Land, which were all produced in Israel, deal with war,
the damage it inflicts upon the terrain, and the natural recovery over time.
The battle sites and military training zones depicted have not memorialized or
preserved by human beings in any way, and are now naturally recovering from the
inflicted trauma as well as being reclaimed by the earth.
 |
| Destroyed Syrian Structure, Golan Heights, Israel, 2010 Beth A. Gilbert © 2012 |
Beth has chosen to
focus on war zones to show the viewer that this is how we, as human beings,
treat each other and the planet that we inhabit. We view ourselves as a
species better than the rest because we have a level of consciousness that
allows for individuality and creativity. These attributes, among many others,
enable us to create/invent ever growing ways in which to better our lives.
 |
| A Different Viewpoint, Golan Heights, Israel 2010 Beth A. Gilbert © 2012 |
In Beth’s opinion, it is due to
this consciousness that we should know better than to wage wars against one
another based on land, power, ideology, or even religion. Through our technology
and the methods in which we implement it to harm each other, we are in turn
destroying our planet. Eventually, we will be the means to our own end.
 |
| Fire Ravaged Valley, Gamla, Israel 2010 Beth A. Gilbert © 2012 |
