Grampians National Park, Vicoria, Australia, 2019
Kodak Aerochrome 6x4.5cm & 4x5in
False-colour infrared film, most commonly known as Aerochrome, was originally developed in the 1940s by Kodak for the purpose of camouflage detection. Healthy vegetation reflects strong infrared light which is invisible to the human eye, however when captured by this film it is seen in varying shades of pink and red. Used in aerial photography against wooded areas suspected of harbouring enemy forces, the vegetation and camouflage would no longer appear the same colour, revealing the enemy’s location. Though it was primarily created for this strategic military purpose it has since been used in a multitude of other ways, from scientists studying pollution in waterways to paranormal investigators searching for elusive spirits.
After the need for a film with such unique characteristics was all but replaced by the rapid advancement of digital imaging technology, Kodak announced it would cease production of Aerochrome in 2007. Setting in motion the film’s extinction, with the final production run set to expire in 2011. It is with a safely preserved stockpile of this film of finite supply that I intend to show our fragile world in new light, suggested to be another world entirely. Other less anticipated colour shifts caused by the unique properties of this film only add to the unfamiliarity, further obscuring the resulting images from our reality.