Summer Solstice Journeys

The ebook chronicles photographer Lloyd Godman's eight photographic expeditions on the summer solstice, from 1988 to 2008. Six captivating journeys take place in Otago, New Zealand, while the remaining two unfold in Victoria, Australia.Each expedition traces the trajectory of the sun or a shadow, from the break of dawn to twilight. Captured through the lens of a square-format 120 film camera, the frame is deliberately tilted at a 45-degree angle, creating a distinctive diamond-shaped...
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The ebook chronicles photographer Lloyd Godman's eight photographic expeditions on the summer solstice, from 1988 to 2008. Six captivating journeys take place in Otago, New Zealand, while the remaining two unfold in Victoria, Australia.Each expedition traces the trajectory of the sun or a shadow, from the break of dawn to twilight. Captured through the lens of a square-format 120 film camera, the frame is deliberately tilted at a 45-degree angle, creating a distinctive diamond-shaped image that captivates the viewer. Just as the sun teeters on the precipice of the summer solstice, poised to transition into shorter daylight hours and the arrival of winter, the camera frame itself delicately balances on a visual fulcrum. The resulting photographs showcase a mesmerizing interplay of intense natural chiaroscuro lighting, presenting stunning black-and-white landscapes that transcend the ordinary clichés of sunrise and sunset photography. Instead, they evoke a sense of performance art with a camera, reminiscent of Richard Long's exploratory walks. Throughout these journeys, the artist immerses himself in silent meditation, forging a deep connection with the planet's natural rhythms and the profound influence of solar forces. The ebb and flow of the tide, the elongation and contraction of shadows in the early morning and at sunset, all unfold as part of this evocative visual odyssey.Initially, Godman invites the reader to delve into the project's conception through a series of enigmatic preliminary landscape photographs, capturing the beach near his residence at that time.The first expedition in 1988 unfolds on Green Island, near Dunedin, New Zealand. The triangular silhouette of the island occupies the upper section of the image, mirroring the corner of the camera frame. Waves gently caress the shore, leaving behind glistening patches of wet sand that reflect the sun.Journey Two, in 1990, centers around the rock formations of the Rock and Pillar range, where Godman tracks the sun's movement in relation to a striking rock formation, occasionally concealed by ethereal fog.Subsequent solstice journeys take us to Akatore Creek in 1996, Moturata in 1999, Bull Creek in 2002, Wilsons Promontory in 2005, and finally St Andrews in 2008.