Photography: Time and Image

A Documentation

“We are not interested in the precise re-construction of movement, which has already been broken up and analysed. We are involved only in the area of movement which produces sensation.”

- Arturo Bragaglia

The photography elective concentrated on the capturing the essence of time in one or collection

of static images. The different methods of capturing such an image were explored, as well as

photographers in the past who have managed to create the effects of capturing motion and

time successfully.

Initially I was keen to use the panorama as a means of suggesting the possibility of capturing a stretch

of landscape as well as the same people being in two places at once simultaneously. An initial

experimentation of a panorama was carried out at Trafalgar Square and was quite successful as to how

the elements in the background stitched together cohesively. However the location was unfeasible at a

later date to re-document the panorama in detail as the square was used to set up an event. I decided

to explore other photographic methods but the experimentation was documented.

The use of extended or long exposures is a method to capture the continuous journey time and motion

in one frame. I was interested in documenting the passage of light in a static image to show movement

and to trace the path of time using photographic means. After further research I looked into the

concept of light typography. A long exposure on a camera lengthens the time the aperture is left open,

so that the path of mediums such as light can be followed in a static image. For this elective, the

concept of light typography was used to document a message written in light using flashlights in motion.

This was also beneficial for a friend as well as the finished images were processed and used as a

meaningful gift to a family member. A Holga camera that takes medium format film, as well as a DSLR, was used to capture the paths of light. Photoshop enabled me to see the effect of the overall image

before the black and white film was developed. Although the coloured images were successful in

showing the passing of captured time, the black and white photographs have a more soulful mood and

the contrast between the light and dark is higher, which makes the path of light more prominent on

the page.

The concept of capturing a person being in two placed at once can also be portrayed using the long

exposure method as well as by creating a panorama. The long exposure captures the same person in

motion and the path they have travelled, hence the person appears a multiple amount of times in the same frame. This was a more difficult method to

implement as the shutter speeds are harder to control on DSLRs. The effect took many attempts to capture,

where some were more successful compared to others. A tripod may have been more useful as a

steady hand was needed to make sure quality was not lost. The processes and experimentation pieces

for each final piece are documented in pictorial sketchbooks.

Photography: Time and Image

Research Sketchbook

Multiple Exposure Documentation

Light Typography Documentation

Project Presentation

Many thanks to: Graham Goldwater for his incredibly infectious zeal and passion for the lens, and for his patience and guidance.

Stephanie Chan for taking part in the experiments.

Joseph M. Franco for wanting to use my experimental work as a gift for his mother.

Cynthia Tongcynth.tong@gmail.com