Technical Images of Flux
As a result of its origins in the industrial revolution, the camera is widely regarded as a mechanical tool or device which – like a microscope or telescope – provides an accurate and objective record of things in the world “as they really are” (Ross, 1982).
This project (Technical Images of Flux – part of my ongoing ‘Give agency to the medium, stand back and see what happens’ series of projects) is an attempt to challenge this idea that photographs are accurate and objective records of things that exist ‘out there’ in the world. In this project, I am attempting to use (or perhaps it would be more accurate to say ‘subvert’) the photomechanical properties of the medium to produce accurate and objective records of scenes that did not exist but which were instead created by the act of photographing them.
These images are accurate and objective records – but which depict ‘how things really were’ to the camera, not to us. In this way, I am not treating the camera as a ‘portable photocopier’ – but am treating the camera as an active collaborator whose modus operandi processes are given the opportunity to inform or shape the content and the appearance of the image beyond my control.
These are all ‘straight’ photographs.
In some cases, I have increased brightness and/or contrast, colour saturation and have ‘spotted out’ bubbles – but I have not otherwise manipulated (Photoshopped) the results.
Rutherford
