Slit scanning

Artworks | Jay Mark Johnson:

Some interesting images here which approach the photographic representation of time in a fairly technical manner. The technology uses a slit camera to take images and build them up into a single image. Unlike a panoramic slit scan-camera the sensor remains motionless and the image is built up of thin slices from left to right so that the one side of the image is taken at a rather different time from the other. Unmoving parts do not change between images so end up looking like thin bands of colour, items that move in front of the camera appear normal or somewhat stretched.

Much has been made about the output being a photo of time - although clearly it isn't - it's a lot of single images of a location. They're fascinating to look at, and there is obviously some real skill and understanding in getting the best from the technique, but ultimately - what do they offer? Is it really more than overcooked HDR imagery or graduated tobacco filters. I'm not sure, but something of it’s potential is to be seen In Jay Mark Johnson’s website and to my mind more interestingly at Adam Magyar’s website.

While Johnson’s use of the technology has more eye appeal – it really tells me very little, whereas its use to shoot a moving underground train in Magyar’s site offers an insight into the passengers stances and attitudes that we wouldn’t normally see.