Manmade

Title

Manmade

Artist

Ari Rex

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Ari Rex’s winning image was shot near Harden, NSW in 2020.
Winner of SLA "Manmade" AIPP 2021

What was your motivation or inspiration for the image?

I wanted to highlight two hot issues in the recent years: GM (genetically modified) crops and the dramatic increase in the number of satellites that are covering our skies. Both issues involve contentious applications of scientific progress. The planned expansion of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service involves an application to add another 42000 satellites to the current 1400, which will have dramatic effects on astrophotography and astronomy.

Was this a planned shoot or a surprise image?

This image was planned over a long-time. The Covid-19 pandemic had an unexpected positive side-effect for astrophotographers like myself, in that there weren’t as many planes flying. This became the perfect time to highlight satellites with this image, as it was only their presence and the occasional meteor that would now produce strikes in the image.

The foreground of the image was also strategically planned, and I chose both the specific time of year when the canola was in bloom, as well as the perfect time of the day, during ‘blue hour’, to capture the image.

What made you choose this image for the competition?

When I saw the ‘Manmade’ category and its requirements, I knew that I found the right category for this image. I really enjoyed the intentional juxtaposition of the supposedly ‘natural’ and manmade elements within the image.

I love the power of suggestion in this image.

Ari Rex
Why is this image important or special to you?

This image is important because of the work I put in to capture it and construct it. Astrophotography requires long hours and dedication, but it’s also worth it because time flies when you are making a great image.

For this image the sky photography involved shooting around 10000 images. Out of those one set of one night was selected; this would include 1500-2000 images, and out of those I intentionally selected the ones with satellite and meteor strikes as I constructed the image.

The image is also important because it reminds me of how my photography provided a bit of an escape during what was a difficult year for everyone. With restrictions and changes to everyday life, still being able to see and photograph the sky at night felt like a little bit of normality.

Uploaded

August 4th, 2021

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