10 images Created 19 Jun 2023
Photogenic Traces
Photogenic Traces are camera-less photographic images made by placing natural forms onto light sensitive paper in the dark, exposing both to light, and processing the paper in photo chemicals. Natural ephemera including exoskeletons, snake skins, root systems, and the result of earthworm movement on the paper—things overlooked or hidden from view—are documented. This photographic method predates the camera and photograms served as scientific documents for botanists, such as British scientist Anna Atkins, in the 1800s. Photograms have also been used by modern and contemporary photographers to create images; the photographs are one of a kind, the detail rendered is astounding and results can be unpredictable. Utilizing live subjects, such as the earthworms, produces unique works that speak to today’s interest in process-based art.
