The photographic strategy in Lakes and Reservoirs centers on capturing the distinctive visual and material qualities of water bodies through an innovative manipulation of surfaces and textures. Matthew Brandt’s work explores the physical presence of lakes and reservoirs by incorporating the actual water from these sites into his photographic prints, which results in images that blur the boundary between object and representation.

The resulting photographs convey a meditative stillness paired with an abstracted geography, emphasizing the interplay between natural phenomena and photographic processes. The mood is contemplative, inviting reflection on environmental impermanence and the passage of time as embedded in physical landscapes.

Published in 2014, the 176-page volume offers a textured field of visual inquiry aiming to expand the conventional photographic medium through material engagement with its subject.