AUSTIN IRVING
ROCK SAFARI

ROCK SAFARI is a large format analog study of rock outcroppings illuminated by a high-powered, long-range hunting flashlight. Nestled in various locations of the Mojave Desert, these formations are slowly and selectively painted with light during exposures on 4x5 color negative that range from eight to forty-five minutes. This process is both a mediation on rare sightings of ancient geological treasures, as well as an ephemeral, time-based performance, rendering no two exposures alike.

Mirroring expeditions to observe or hunt animals in the wild, this project is the geological equivalent of going on safari. Traversing remote locations in off-roading vehicles, large format camera system in tow, while scanning the landscape with a tactical flashlight, this methodology is reminiscent of catching an animal's eyeshine in the dark.

Author
Austin Irving (b. 1984, NYC) is an award winning visual artist who works with large format analog photography. Irving graduated cum laude with a BFA from the Department of Photography and Imaging at NYU’s TISCH School Of The Arts in 2006. Her artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Hong Kong, India, Germany, Lithuania, France, and across the United States. She has participated in exhibitions at institutions such as MOCA, The Irvine Fine Arts Center, FMoPA, The International Photography Symposium, Virginia Tech, NY Center for Photographic Arts, and The Katonah Museum of Art. Her work has been the recipient of the Architecture Master Prize, Aesthetica Art Prize, MonoAwards, American Photography Competition, IPA, PX3, TIFA, and BIFA. Her images have been featured in The LA Times, Wired, Slate, Architectural Digest, LA Weekly, PDN, Artillery, TimeOut NY, Artsy, Voyage LA, Yatzer, and Artweek LA. Irving lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their dog, Kodak.

Website
www.austinirving.com

Instagram
@austin.irving

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