Photographs Rendered in Living Algae

algae-graphs-1images courtesy Lia Giraud

Artist Lia Giraud has cultivated a hybrid agricultural and photographic process to create astoundingly detailed images rendered in living algae that he calls “algae-graphs.”

algae-graphs-2

Like traditional photography, Giraurd’s process works by using a light-sensitive material to capture the image upon exposure to it but, rather than photographic film, he uses a petri dish coated in micro-organism that react to the light by growing in different densities.

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Instead of needing time to develop, like a photograph, an “algae-graph” needs time to grow, sometimes for up to 4 days. It makes me wonder if there might be a cave out there somewhere with a perfect image from a natural camera obscura growing in it!

[via Geyser of Awesome]

0 thoughts on “Photographs Rendered in Living Algae

  1. Photographs Rendered in Living Algae ianlee74 says:

    That’s amazing. How does he do it?

    1. Johnny Gnash says:

      A variety of anthotype photography?

  2. Fabian Kessler says:

    this idea about the camera obscura… absolutely awesome! even cooler than this photographic process in my opinion…

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Artist, writer, and teacher who makes work about popular culture, technology, and traditional craft processes. http://www.andrewsalomone.com

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