At first glance, one might think that Susan Derges pieces are created by shooting reflections in a pool of water -- or in some other cases, through a microscope. But the truth behind her imagery is even more exciting. If one is told these images were not created using a camera, they might be led to believe they are paintings with the softness and surreality. Derges did train in painting originally, which could explain how and why she turned to such a hands on approach to photography. Her images are produced by three major elements: water, light and sound. In some series' she does photograms and in others she allows the paper to record images through ambient light exposure. "Her images, though based upon the capturing of external natural realities, take on a metaphorical dimension that echo the inner life of the unconscious and imaginative" (Source).
Her work is so inspiring and I feel as if I could spend hours just staring at the images trying to figure out how something so beautiful was created, especially in the methods through which she does them. I found her website difficult to navigate because every time I'd read something the mouse would move and I'd have to find where I was so unfortunately I was only able to read reviews of other reviews and unable to obtain very many quotes. However, here is one:
The images look - in the same way as some of the spawn images did - quite microscopic at times, as if you are looking from a very extreme aerial view down onto the landscape. There is also a very strong sense that you are placed underneath and that is certainly a lot to do with the effect of working with photograms, that the actual event is happening where the subject matter meets the paper, which is always from the underside of the subject matter rather than from above when you are working with a camera (Source)
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