Results for 2021 Solargraphs
After a six-month wait, the time arrived to gather solargraphs in December 2021. Opening the cans at year-end is like unwrapping presents, with anticipation of at least something good. This year yielded a mixed bag of images from four southwest Michigan sites.
New Buffalo-public beach
Three solargraph cans were mounted at the New Buffalo Beach Club concession stand, with thanks to host Dan Leung. The two cans atop the posts yielded reasonable results, yet both had muted solar arcs, which seems rare. The dark vertical bands are an artifact from the scanning process. When the photographic paper inside gets wet, it curls in waves that don't lie perfectly flat on the scanning bed.
New Buffalo-marsh
This solargraph image from the wetlands continues a series of 6-month solargraphs taken with a sundial in the foreground. Unfortunately, the photographic paper inside was damaged by water. You can barely discern the "shark fin" of the sundial where the lower solar arcs terminate on the left side.
New Buffalo-private site
Three cans installed at a private site yielded modest results. One can was on a leaning post, so it only captured the top portion of the sun's 6-month arc.
In the second image the sun slices through the leafy upper half of (invasive) black locust trees in the late summer and fall, which makes the tree top look blurry. When the trees were silhouetted by the sun in late fall and winter, the lower branches, sans leaves, are more well defined.
Portage, MI
Two excellent solargraphs from Portage, MI, show the arc of the sun paired with a panoramic photograph of the scene. Note how during the lowest part of the arc--in late December--the sun apparently does not clear the building for multiple days from this resident's perspective.
Let us press on! If you want to join me in the Michiana region (northwest IN, southwest MI) in making some solargraph cans, feel free to contact me.
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