CAMERA
The camera used in the Local Colors Project is a custom-built device designed to expose film to both visual and environmental elements. It consists of two film rolls mounted on a platform, with the exits of the rolls facing each other. One roll is full, while the other is empty. The end of the film from the full roll is attached to the spool of the empty roll, which extends outward with a metal stick connected to the base plate via a bearing, allowing it to spin freely.
Around this extension pole, a rope is wrapped. When the rope is pulled, it causes the spool to spin, transferring the film from the full roll to the empty one. Between the two rolls is a small gap—this is the exposure area. In this gap, the film is exposed not only to light but also to water, its chemical composition, and temperature, capturing a range of environmental factors. This platform was submerged into various Hawaiian water bodies, and the film was exposed using this mechanism, creating a unique photographic documentation of the interaction between the film and the natural surroundings.
LOCAL COLORS
The Local Colors Project explores the diverse ecologies of the Hawaiian Islands through an analog film technique that exposes the film directly to natural elements like light, temperature, and the chemical composition of the environment. By allowing the film to interact with these conditions, it captures more than just the visible landscapes, reflecting the unique sensory and chemical characteristics of each location. The resulting images offer a deeper connection to the land, documenting not only what can be seen but also what is experienced through the interaction between the film and the environment.