About
Planetary is a gallery of photographs created through differing levels of light exposure in composition with a multitude of liquids which results in a unique piece, this is used in conjunction with the various settings available on DLSR cameras. The inspiration behind this work was how the use of different fluids could create diverse alien settings which were reminiscent of those found in 'space art'. All photographs are free from post processing and filters, as my intention with the composition was to produce it manually.
Process
The process of creating these images primarily focused on manipulating the materials being used but also working in conjunction with the abilities of the camera and changing the lighting. The idea behind the work was to create visually stunning images through experimental means. An example of creating the 'galaxy of stars' type shot was by using spray oil in a mix of dye, water and dish washing liquid. Part of creating the photos was seeing what intrigued me and trying to develop it further, as a practitioner I found that outcomes could not always be expected but rather than push for a specific outcome it was better to guide it.
Below are examples of use a shallow semi transparent vessel with dyes and fluid of different viscosity. The idea here was to film how the dye would spread and mix. Throughout experimentation a certain degree of control over the subject allowed for some opportunities to film. Methods used vary from spraying, normal mixing, layering and freezing, each method can result in a completely different outcome such as the effect of the dye branching from the centre of a frozen block.
Using manual settings such as shutter speed for varying outputs. This is particularly useful for brighter images without static through ISO. Settings such as white balance, focus and ISO can also allowed for a diverse range of images without post processing. With the use of AC lighting I noticed that the light would flicker which produced black lines throughout the final output, taking this into consideration a ISO and shutter speed needed be adjusted along with the use of a physical filter over the light.