“Dying Grass Moon” – cyanotype on Canson watercolor paper
During September and October, I will be exhibiting a collection of long-exposure pinhole photographs in the Allenton Gallery at the Durham Arts Council in Durham, North Carolina. These images were formed in homemade cameras, made from soup cans, cookie tins, paper board and other materials. These cameras are then left outdoors; some overnight, some for up to six months. The light they absorb records the path of the moon or sun across the sky.
The exhibition includes both color digital prints and cyanotype prints.
I am grateful for the help and cooperation of several people in placing the solar cameras in Durham and Chapel Hill for the six months between the winter solstice and the summer solstice. Anna Branley, Joe Lemanski and Darin Langston of Greenfire Development gave me access to two of their downtown properties. Kirsten O’Hara allowed me to place cameras at Bean Traders in Meadowmont in Chapel Hill and artist Mark Brown helped me place a camera high up on the building.
I learned the technique of making “solar” images from Tarja Trygg (Finland) several years ago. More recently, I have been in touch with other artists experimenting with this technique: Justin Quinnell (England) and Diego Lopez Calvin (Spain). Diego was an early pioneer of this technique.
Gregg, this image has so much life! The movement of the moon and grasses, the rough edges of the emulsion, the contrasting shapes. Beautiful, beautiful work. A perfect marriage of technique and subject. I’ve never really “got” cyanotypes in the past. I have now.
Gregg, congrats on the show. The long-exposure idea is a fascinating one, and it would be wonderful to see the show in person.
The exhibition sounds great, I can’t wait!
Now that you’re retired, you should be able to devote more time to photographs, right?
Love this one….what talent….and still admire my Christmas card.
so beautiful and delicate!! I love your way