Limit Telephotography

At Trevor Paglen's website:

A number of military bases and installations exist in some of the remotest parts of the United States, hidden deep in western deserts and buffered by dozens of miles of restricted land. Many of these sites are so remote, in fact, that there is nowhere on Earth where a civilian might be able to see them with an unaided eye. In order to produce images of these remote and hidden landscapes, therefore, some unorthodox viewing and imaging techniques are required.

Limit-telephotography involves photographing landscapes that cannot be seen with the unaided eye. The technique employs high powered telescopes whose focal lengths range between 1300mm and 7000mm. At this level of magnification, hidden aspects of the landscape become apparent.

Limit-telephotography most closely resembles astrophotography, a technique that astronomers use to photograph objects that might be trillions of miles from Earth. In some ways, however, it is easier to photograph the depths of the solar system than it is to photograph the recesses of the military industrial complex. Between Earth and Jupiter (500 million miles away), for example, there are about five miles of thick, breathable atmosphere. In contrast, there are upwards of forty miles of thick atmosphere between an observer and the sites depicted in this series.

More here.

Comments

[Carlos]

"In contrast, there are upwards of forty miles of thick atmosphere between an observer and the sites depicted in this series."

None of the photos is from further than 22 miles away. If he is suggesting that photons have to travel from his lens-to the site-and back again...well.

He does seem to have demonstrated that the US government possesses 737s, and that they are cautiously willing to use them.

[doug l]

The article doesn't state that the images which accompany it are in fact the maximum reach of this system. As someone very familiar with the physical geogrpahy of the Basin and Range province, I can say the the figure of "40 miles" is a kind of "modulus" in that desert and it is a fairly close average of the distances from one range to another...and from one water source to another. It might be worthwhile to bear in mind that the conditions of the atmosphere can varied so that sometimes short distances are enough to obscure the clarity of the image and at other times, for example: during periods of strong high-pressure, the air is extraordinarily clear to the point where estimating distance can be quite deceptive. Next time you're in Vegas, rent a car and head 5 hours north to Baker and checkout Great Basin National Park there.

[Carlos]

Well let's hope I change my mind someday, but right now all I can think is "I will never go to Vegas unless something has gone horribly wrong"

I did look at Great Basin photos. They reminded me of the east side of the southern Sierras. I used to make the long trip from LA to Mammoth Mountain once or twice each year and we did a fair amount of side trips to check out geological wonder spots and "boulder." Some days you could see forever.