- Joined
- Oct 29, 2012
- Messages
- 74
- Format
- 8x10 Format
This video is an overview of creating autoradiograms and uranotypes for my upcoming exhibition, "TRANSMUTATIONS: Visualizing Matter | Materializing Vision”, a unique expanded documentary combining analog 16mm black and white film & digital sound recordings, together with ultra-large format uranotype photography and live data from scientific measuring instruments to illuminate the mineral at the heart of the atomic age, the radioactive, primary ore of uranium: uraninite.
"Uraninite, C-Group, Inter-River District, San Juan County, Utah"
15" circular uranotype.
15" circular uranotype.
Using a completely analogue workflow from start to finish, the imagery comprises a series of autoradiograms using historically significant samples of uranium ore extracted from specific mines in Canada and the US. Autoradiograms are created by placing the ore directly on film; the ionizing radiation streaming from the rock exposes silver halide as if it were visible light. These images are then enlarged via continuous tone internegative on lith film and printed on uranotype. The resulting prints, crackling with radioactivity, are a vibrant index of the original specimen, the light and shade showing the radiation as an aura through and around the mineral matrix. I started this project over ten years ago, collecting historically significant samples of uraninite across North America. In the last 18 months, all the pieces started to fall into place, and I'm currently at work on the final prints for the autoradiogram segment of the project.
There is currently a Live Kickstarter campign to raise funds for an expedition for the project, which was selected as a "Project We Love” and “New and Noteable" on Kickstarter and showcased on the front page of the ARTS section. Here's the link:
Dead Link Removed
Special thanks to fellow APUG member Bob Kiss for his advice and recommendations on the uranotype process; without his assistance it would have been a much longer timeline to achieve exhibition quality prints!
Thanks for looking!
-Jesse-
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