Shutter Speed: Michael Chrisman

Canadian photographer,Michael Chrisman, once set up his pinhole camera on a Toronto dock and set about producing a one year long (31,536,000 seconds) exposure of the city's skyline. I'll say that again using only the key words: Michael Chrisman, Toronto. One Year Long Exposure. I could say it a thousand times, in different accents and tones of voice, and it would still prove hard to believe. I could say it quietly in the middle of the night, or I could whisper it gently into your ear. How ever I say it, it will always sound impressive.

This is the picture in question. Chrisman used photosensitive paper  inside his pinhole camera. Chrisman comments: 

 “trails left by the sun as it moves through the sky both throughout the day and as the seasons change” (1)

Looking at his work, Chrisman specialises in such ridiculously long exposures. In Autumn 2011, he created a series of images that were all exposed for 1000 hours. Two of these are below.

Harbour.
This type of photography really does stretch the art to its limits. When playing with such a long time frame, it is possible to see the more intricate elements of light, just as the movement of the sun was recorded in his one year long exposure.

Electric.
Doesn't really do it for me this. Think it lacks the dreaminess prominent in the other two.

Apparently this was only a sideline and a experiment for Chrisman. His usual work tends to be the type of stylishly vacant urban scenes that have me drooling.

Your Journey Will be Worth the Effort.
This is typical of Chrisman's usual work: wide angle environmental design.

1) http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1109339--year-long-exposure-of-toronto-skyline-produces-dreamy-image