Artifacts of Fire and Wax

“There is no better, there is no more open door by which you can enter into the study of natural philosophy than by considering the physical phenomena of a candle. I trust, therefore, I shall not disappoint you in choosing this for my subject rather than any newer topic, which could not be better, were it even so good.” -Michael Faraday The Chemical History of the Candle Out of a desire to be more elemental I began making this work with the most basic of materials; Silver gelatin paper and a red candle. One of the earliest accounts of the camera obscura by Mozi in ancient China was the result of seeing the projection of a candle through a pinhole in a sheet of paper. I wondered what would transpire if I limited my means of production to those two objects; a light source and a surface. In the darkroom I lay a sheet of silver gelatin paper on the ground, light a red candle, and hold it over the surface of the paper. As the flame burns and exposes the paper, drops of wax fall onto the emulsion. Being red wax each drip becomes a small red filter, preventing further exposure by the flame. Once I have achieved a curious pattern of drips I begin to develop the image. The wax, which first acted to resist exposure by the candle, then acts as a resist to the chemical development of the photograph. I continue this process for several hours, removing wax and running the paper through the chemistry dozens and dozens of times. Most surprising is the palette of color resulting from flame and chemical interventions with the emulsion.The results are such wondrous and curious tracings of silver The time spent making these images feels ancient, a similar sensation to where the mind goes while staring into flame; hours hovered over a white plane with fire in hand, watching the liquid drop to the surface. First a shadow as the wax falls then a snap as it connects and splatters across the emulsion. I wonder how each of these actions will render visually. These artifacts of the fire and wax remind me that photography is inherently a medium of wonder, light traced in precious metal.