Stage Three: How can sound be visualised?
Through the studies in stages 1 & 2, I started to research how sound can be depicted visually - a concept that at first seemed impossible. However, a number of scientists and artists have identified ways in which this is possible, and I discovered that it has a specific term - CYMATICS.
The remaining stages 3-5 explore various methods that have historically been deployed to achieve this.
CRITICAL LINKS
ABOUT
For this stage, I started to think about how vibration and sound could be visualised which led me to discover the study of cymatics, or the visible effects of sound and vibration.
One of the pioneering photographers of this field was Susan Derges who used the experiments of Ernst Chladni to create camera-less photographs. Taking this as inspiration a latex balloon was stretched over a large cylinder and a speaker placed inside. Salt was then sprinkled onto this surface and different frequencies played through the speaker; thus creating the patterns seen below.
MANIPULATIONS
For these images I layered and blended them in Photoshop, overlaying the patterns and creating new ones.
