‘Dark chamber’ was constructed inside the Centre for Contemporary Photography (Melbourne) in 2023, with its dioptre facing west framing the Marquis of Lorne in Fitzroy.
The exposure was made with 50 sheets of photographic paper, each measuring 61.0 x 50.8 cm, meticulously hung in the darkness producing paper negative images.
Camera obscuras are dream and womb-like, gracious and poetic; harnessing the beauty of a moving image combined with the reaffirmation of memory. An instant, subconscious almost primal relationship comes with standing inside a camera obscura, and the darkness and mood of ‘Negative dark chamber’ recreates the magic of this ephemeral experience.
The production of 'Negative dark chamber' was supported by Ilford Australia and by Rob Cambell assisted during exposure.