Stop by and see a few of my images in print, in person.
Carrefour: Intersections of Biomedical Research and Art,
June 22-July 19, Opening Reception 5-7pm June 21, Gallery Hours: 12-5pm Tuesday-Saturday
The Process
Imaging the tick on the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) yesterday I had one of those moments.
There is a flow to imaging, sample collection, preparation, coating (yes I’m still using a high vacuum SEM), and finally loading the sample. Setting the conditions for the sample, and then the magic happens. But it isn’t always magic, some times it just is.
Sample don’t always reveal themselves to be well suited for the level of detail on the SEM, some samples are just not exciting from my aesthetic point of view. I suppose, after 20+ years, that’s to be expected, I’m a harsh critic and not easily excited by the run of the mill samples anymore.
The Ixodes yesterday was, for the most part and especially initially, pretty pedestrian. I was excited because it was finally a deer tick to add to the dog tick collection, and I had managed to mount it in a great viewing angle, well coated, awesome detail, really amazing images. Initially though, it was a bit of a let down after recording the classic image, I was really looking for something spectacular. But I pushed through, one encouraging concept for a large scale montage developed as I worked… but while not forced it wasn’t the spontaneous reward you get when composing a new melody and you know you hit it exactly right.
20 images later I zoomed way out, time to get one whole tick reference image. Reviewing the image after the scan I noticed the spiracular plates. Promising. Zoom in, rotate, manipulate all four axial controls reflexively and that wave washed over.
That was the moment we live for. Time will tell if the image is as dramatic as some, but I was blown away. So cool. Like in bike racing when your really really good legs coincide with a race, when it all comes together perfectly, those moments are what we kind of live for I suppose.
It is something anyone who is invested in a craft knows. Parallels exist in most every human endeavor, I was just lucky to have one yesterday. The process of documenting these samples in black and white, the electron maps that give us three dimensional views into the nanoscape, it is maybe what I do best. These images have always resonated with me, and will continue to do so. The quest continues, when will the next moment happen, hopefully sooner than later.
-G. Williams, Nanoscape
I will unveil this image in question after June 4th.
