Celestial Trace

ARTIST STATEMENT

Celestial Trace is a photographic exploration that documents perceptions of solar and lunar phenomena. I intimately record layered timescales from the daily passings of celestial matter onto photosensitive paper and film. The three photographic processes I use are: solargraphy, cyanonegative and lunargraphy. The photographs show a sense of curiosity and uniqueness by encapsulating timescales that span across hours, days, weeks and months, into a single still image. My images are subject to chance and process, including weather forecasts and shifting temperatures. Within these small and large scaled images, I capture an impression of deep time, movement and invisibility. Therefore, the works communicate the comparison of finite human life to the great expanse of time (i.e., the cosmos).

Documentation of works in-progress

The Three Photographic Processes

Selected works displayed below

SOLARGRAPHY

Solargraphy is an ultra-long exposure processes that records the passing trajectories of the sun. I handmake lens-less pinhole cameras and insert different brands of black and white photographic paper inside the apparatuses. I then attach and leave multiple cameras outside in the environment and indoors looking out the windows. After patiently waiting hours, days, weeks or months for each individual exposure, I remove the cameras and materials from the environment. The process does not require any chemicals or fixing to retrieve the results. Instead, I remove the paper negative from the camera and immediately scan the negative. Due to the temperature admitting from the sun’s light rays, this heats up the photosensitive attributes on the paper causing the light to physical mark shadows of the landscape and abstract pathways of the sun.

LITTLE RIVER, HOME.
24 April 2022 - 24 April 2023: 365 days, 6 hours, 35 minutes 2023

pigment ink-jet print
100 x 130 cm

To see the complete solargraphy archive click here.

To download a PDF document of the solargraphy archive click here.

LUNARGRAPHY
Lunargraphy is a film based photographic process that records the warning gibbous, full moon and waxing gibbous phases of the moon. I use 120 and 35mm pinhole cameras to capture exposures that can last overnight. I am interested in capturing a low light perspective of the sky as well as providing a contrast to the daylight images of the sun.

LITTLE RIVER, FRONT YARD AND FREEWAY
11 August: 1 hour, 45 minutes 2022

pigment ink-jet print
10 x 6.59 cm

To see the complete lunargraphy archive click here.

To download a PDF document of the lunargraphy archive click here.

CYANONEGATIVE

Cyanonegative is an expansion process to the original contact printing method cyanotype. However instead of placing objects or negatives onto the iron compound paper then exposing it to the ultraviolet light (UV), the cyanotype paper in this augmentation becomes an in-camera negative.