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THE
SUNRISE
PROJECT
A project funded by the Arts council and
Bristol city council
through Knowle West Media Centre's artists' residency programe
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The Sunrise Project book contains 30+ images and information
on doing this project
and published on October 12th.
Contact Knowle
West Media Centre for signed copies or to buy direct
Here
Around Spring
solstice in March 2010, over 450 pinhole cameras, designed to take 3-month
duration exposures, were given out to residents and employees of South Bristol
in the UK. By summer solstice in June, 120 cameras were 'harvested' showing
95 images each of 3 months duration. Many of the remaining cameras went missing,
were unused and some remain unfound exposing to this very day.
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The cameras were designed
to enable people to capture the (apparent) movement of the sun moving
across the sky from dawn till dusk, and as it rises from Spring to its
full elevation at Summer solstice.
The cameras were made
from discarded 'Red Bull' and beer cans as well as small inconspicuous
cameras made from old film containers.
They were positioned
at participants homes as well as many 'secret' locations overlooking,
churches, pubs, trees, parks, signs, crossings, clocks, burnt out cars,
below speed cameras, on graves opposite shops etc.
The 120 surviving
cameras were 'harvested' on and around June 20th (Summer solstice)
The project was funded
by Knowle West Media Centre and instigated by artist in residence and
pinhole photographer Justin Quinnell
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Flyer for project
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Workshop at 'the Park' |
Camera positioned below
a Speed camera sign |
Positioning cameras
at
Knowle West Health Centre |
Interpreting the images
The images
are all taken over a 3-month period with the lines across the sky showing the
sun appearing to travel from East to West and increasing in elevation as the
sun rises from spring to its full 'height' at summer solstice on June 20th.
Cloudy days
result in a dark line and, when the sun is obscured by cloud for a while, it
reappears at another place resulting in a dot or a dash. An exact time and date
on the image can be found by matching the pattern of sun and cloud with weather
websites. The Wide-angle nature of the cameras (160 degrees) shows the position
of the sun close to sunrise and sunset.
Cars parked at
Christ the King Primary School |
Sun reflecting over
cycle rack
Room 13, Hartcliffe |
As well as the sun other
effects can be found. White lines in the foreground can be the result of reflections
off greenhouses or the windows of buildings or sun trails off cars parked in
the same position every day.
Trees allow the sun to pass
through until April - May when leaves begin to appear on their branches so preventing
the sun passing through. The cameras had to cope with all that the British climate
can throw at it. The black (but not unattractive!) dark areas at the top are
often water damage. As the image created by the camera is inverted so the top
of the image (at the bottom of the can) is the part sitting in a pool of rainwater.
Rozzes house |
Knowle West Health
Centre |
Photographic emulsion contains
gelatine which over three months can be a tasty snack for airbourne bacteria
and mould. These appear on the images as black blobs or small clumps of dark
lines. Other lines and patterns can be caused by: internal reflections, condensation,
camera movement and other effects. Many things that happen over the three months
can only be visualised by the taker who would know what is in the field of view
of the camera. Other effects remain a mystery.
View through tree at
'The Park' |
Lakeshore Flats Development |
A full selection
of images taken on the project is viewable on the
Flickr
site here
With thanks
to:
Re:work and Re:store, Anne
and all at the Bingo club, Pat and all at the Wednesday club, The Foster mums
at Knowle West Health Association, All at Silver Screen, The secondary school
staff and students at: Merchants Academy, Bridge Learning Campus, Saint Mary
Redcliffe, Brislington School and Oasis Academy. The primary school staff and
students at Room 13 and Christ the King. The individuals of Knowle West, N'Large,
Digi-fish, Green Mapping, Voices of the South, ELM and all the staff and associates
of Knowle West Media Centre.
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