Solargraphs are pinhole cameras with exposure times measured in months rather than fractions of a second. This slowing down of time produces the arcs of the sun as it traces it’s way across the sky. The ‘how’ isn’t anywhere near as important as the ‘why but it gives you an idea of what’s involved in making the work. The length of time involved in raises certain questions. Is it a different me collecting the solargraph than the person who left it? Maybe a window into what the landscape looks like when I’m not there to experience it?
What’s implied in the image is as important as what you can see. Anything moving quickly isn’t pictured but is in there. Solargraphs see everything (metaphorically) like photographic black holes. Every moment of joy and sadness you have experienced while each exposure was made is in there somewhere. A newborns first breath and another person’s last. The chaos of the universe condensed into photographic form set within the confines of a 5×7 piece of darkroom paper. With Solargraphs we are able to experience time almost in a geological sense and gain a glimpse into a differing reality than our own. A looped reminder how fleeting our lives are.
Selected images from Al’s Solargraph series are shown below. (click to view image at full size / format)
ABOUT AL BRYDON
Al Brydon is a UK based photographer and co-founder of the Inside the Outside Collective. He currently resides in South Yorkshire, on the edge of the Peak District. He completed his further education in photography many years ago and has exhibited both in the UK and abroad, most recently showing work with US based photographer J.M Golding at the Dickerman Print gallery in San Francisco and the Inside the Outside ‘Out of the woods of thought’ exhibition at the Argentea Gallery in Birmingham. He has been published online and in print most recently working with JW Editions who have just published a photobook of this featured series of solargraphs (See below for more details).
Website: al-brydon.com
Twitter: @AlBrydonPhoto
Instagram: @al_brydon
EXHIBITION
Al will be exhibiting images from his Solargraph series as part of the Inside the Outside ‘Out of the woods of thought‘ group exhibition at the Oriel Colwyn gallery in North Wales later this summer.
SOLARGRAPH BOOK
JW Editions have published Al’s Solargraph series in photobook form. With over 100 pages, 60+ images, and introductions by Al and Rob Hudson. The book is available as a print edition and standard version, and can be purchased on their website until stocks last.
CREDITS
Unless otherwise stated, all words and images in this article are © Al Brydon
