The Bechers approached photography the way a botanist might approach the cataloguing of flora and fauna, wroteThe Guardian.

This was then subdivided according to the materials used in the structure.

Finally, the structures were grouped according to shared characteristics.

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Winding Towers

Blast Furnaces

Water Towers

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Bernd and Hilla Becher