Annular Eclipse at Chaco Canyon Platinum Print

I was thrilled to learn that the 2023 Annular Eclipse would pass directly over my home city of Albuquerque, New Mexico—placing it in the path of totality. Initially, I thought about observing it from my backyard, but deeper research revealed a more compelling vantage point: Chaco Canyon. Its rich history and alignment on the path of totality made it an irresistible choice to witness and document this celestial event.

The final print, framed, of the Chaco Canyon Annular Eclipse Platinum Print

I opted to work with a large-format 4x5 camera and film, enjoying the physicality and inherent challenges of this medium for documenting such an event. Balancing the brilliance of the sun with the darkness of the landscape posed a significant challenge, as a solar filter effectively exposes only the sun, leaving the rest in an unexposed portion of the sheet of film. The solution was a double exposure on the same sheet of film. First, I composed an image of Pueblo del Arroyo oriented precisely where the annular eclipse would appear. Later, when annularity occurred, I added the second exposure with the solar filter in place, integrating the bright sun ring into the composition.

Upon developing the film I was relieved to see the everything come to life exactly as I had envisioned. I then had the negative drum scanned and produced a platinum/palladium print, a process that amplifies the tactile depth and timeless quality of the photograph.

Through this piece, I hope viewers sense both the fleeting nature of cosmic events and our enduring desire to connect with something larger than ourselves. Chaco Canyon, shaped by its peoples knowledge of celestial events, provided the perfect stage to explore how art, science, and history converge.

This photo will be displayed at the Albuqurque Museum in 2025 as part of a fundraiser for the museum. If interrested, I have additional prints avaliable. This is an edition of 9.

Below is a brief set of photographs that show the print-making process of the platinum/palladium print.

Creating a test strip of exposure times to dial in the amount of UV exposure needed for this negative.

Creating the emulsion mixture of equal parts palladium to ferric oxalate and a little bit of platinum for good measure

Coating the emulsion onto a sheet of Hahnemuhle paper. Careful attention is given to only coat the area intended for the photograph - in this case, an area slightly smaller than the negative which gives the edges of the print a hand-made look when matted and framed.

The platinum/palladium emulsion is UV sensitive so UV lights are used to expose the image onto the paper.

A slow-motion video of the developing process of the exposed print.

The developed print in a wash bath.

The final print hanging above my fireplace.