Landscape 3rd place winner

This multimedia project explores a remote area of Kazakhstan that was once home of the Soviet Union’s major nuclear testing facilities. It became known as the Semipalatinsk Test Site or under the more illustrious name The Polygon. More than 450 nuclear tests took place here from 1949 until 1989 with little regard for their effect on the local people and environment. The full impact of radiation exposure was hidden for many years by Soviet authorities and only became clear since the test site was closed in the early 90s. The significance of this dark chapter in history has become unexpectedly relevant due to the recent tensions in the region. Desolation and decay scar the landscape at this corner of the Kazakh steppe. Strange craters formed by nuclear explosions can be found all over the landscape littered by the remains of giant concrete structures. It appears inhabitable, and yet people are living there, haunted by the effects of these events from history. The majority of the places shown in this photography project are contaminated beyond repair.

Eddo Hartmann, Born in The Hague in 1973, Eddo Hartmann is a Dutch photographer whose career spans over 25 years. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague, Hartmann has built a reputation for his striking and thought-provoking images of architecture and urban spaces. While he began his career in commercial and editorial photography, he later shifted his focus to long-term documentary projects, exploring themes such as the impact of human activity on the planet and its landscapes.

Hartmann’s work has been widely exhibited and featured in newspapers and magazines around the world. His photographs are part of both private and public collections, reflecting their significance in the contemporary art and photography world. Among his numerous accolades, he received the prestigious Sony World Award in 2024.

In addition to his photographic pursuits, Hartmann is a dedicated educator, teaching visual grammar to BA and MA students. Currently based in Amsterdam, he continues to work as a freelance photographer, producing solo publications and contributing documentary series for international audiences.