A Golden Birthday Suncloud 1

A Golden Birthday Suncloud 1
To celebrate Janie's birthday. The sun-shadow picture of daffodils – Janie's special Birthday flower - was produced using the Cyanotype process, with the circular picture showing her garden, where they were picked and where the spectacular scorched sun arc was recorded.

Capturing the Moment

Capturing the Moment
Created on the day and Reception garden of Lucy and Jonny's wedding. The floral theme for their reception was bunches of lavender. The picture shows one of these, with the 22 ct sunshine arc running between two sprigs, symbolising Lucy and Jonny.

Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue
Created for Chris, a keen sailor`s 70th Birthday, incorporating a photograph of the sea and horizon with ‘mirrored’ sunshine arc scorch lines recorded on location and gilded using 22 ct Yellow Gold and White Gold.

Sixty Birthday Stars

Sixty Birthday Stars
As well as using sunshine recordings to fix the time and place of an event, I create images of the night sky on a particular date, using star maps.

This Cyanotype picture shows the position of the stars and the phase of the moon over Southern England on Lizzie's 60th Birthday. Each scorched star outline is created by pushing a hot needle into the surface of the picture. The sparkling stars are gilded using 22ct White gold.

Speed of Light

Speed of Light
To commemorate professional photographer Karen's, retirement. The intense blue and white image was produced using an 'old school' black & white photographic negative to fix a Cyanotype image. The sun arc, spanning 'old' and 'new' is gilded with 22ct Mid-gold

Who Knows Where the Time Goes

Who Knows Where the Time Goes
Created on the day and location of Matt and Sophie's wedding. The music is a graphic representation of their special song. The floral theme in their church involved raspberry leaves – with two featured in the picture.

A Golden Birthday Suncloud 2

A Golden Birthday Suncloud 2
To celebrate Janie's twin sister Sally's birthday. The sun-shadow picture of flowers growing near her coastal village home, pictured, was produced using the Cyanotype process. The spectacular scorched sun arc was recorded for the twin Suncloud 1 & 2 during the Spring Equinox, when the sun produces a relatively straight arc and bright scorch marks.

A Golden Birthday Suncloud 1
To celebrate Janie's birthday. The sun-shadow picture of daffodils – Janie's special Birthday flower - was produced using the Cyanotype process, with the circular picture showing her garden, where they were picked and where the spectacular scorched sun arc was recorded.
Request more information
Request more information

SAVE THE DAY Commemoration Pictures

These one-off Heliograph pictures are produced using a portable large-scale Sunshine Recorder which can be erected anywhere, in any location.

The multi-media images that are placed into the device have sun-track lines scorched into them to produce a unique record of the time and place each recording is made and will vary in intensity depending on the location`s weather conditions. In this way, they produce a personal memory, symbolising Chance and Fate.


SAVE YOUR DAY

An important part of my art practice involves collaborative projects.

Over the years, these collaborations have involved notable scientists, musicians, dancers, gallery owners – for details go to the CV pages. The SAVE THE DAY Commemoration series offers YOU the chance to collaborate with me on the production of your own personalised unique Heliograph picture.

Previous participants have used this opportunity to commemorate special days such as: BIRTHDAYS; WEDDINGS; COMING OF AGE; ANNIVERSARIES; NEW YEAR`S DAY; MID SUMMER`S DAY; THE SPRING AND AUTUMN EQUINOX; GLOBAL EVENTS.

Each Heliograph in the slide show was produced using this process, with the coloured design, prior to being burned into, being produced in my Sussex studio. The surfaces behind the charred lines have been gilded to symbolise the Sun.


HOW IT`S DONE:

CHOOSE YOUR SIGNIFICANT DAY – any event that is important to you.

A few weeks before the day, I meet with you to discuss the location where you would like the recording to be made – this could be your garden, my studio, the grounds of your Reception Event, an area outside a church or other building, etc. Ideally, the location needs to face South with a good view of the sun as it tracks across the sky.

We will also discuss significant words, pictures or objects that you would like to be incorporated into the mono-coloured sun-shadow photograph. Some people have chosen things like: A picture of the church they will be getting married in; the sheet music for a special song; a poem; particular flowers that bloom around their birthday or other event; locks of hair; diagrams of stars and star-signs; a photograph of a special place. The choice is YOURS – we’ll discuss the layout together.

We’ll also discuss the size you’d like your finished artwork to be (normally A2 or A1), the style of frame and the type of gold leaf you would like your sun arc to be gilded with (normally 22ct mid-gold, but rose gold and white gold are available).

Although I will produce the original Cyanotype picture in my Sussex studio, my Sunshine Recording equipment is portable so that, on the day, the recorded sun arc can be made either at my studio or at your specified location. Watching the sun burn your arc provides a great talking point at an Event Reception.

To set up the recorder at a location other than my studio, I will need access to your chosen site 1-3 days prior to the Event. Provided this has been organised, there is no need for you to be there - although you`re welcome to come along to watch the process, should you wish.

Your unique Heliograph is taken back to my studio, varnished with an invisible protective layer, gilded and then framed.

The completed artwork is delivered to you within three weeks or, if you`d like a day out in the country, you can visit me in my studio and pick up your picture yourselves.

“WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SUN DOESN`T SHINE?”
Should the weather be really bad on the day of your event and there is no sun, there are several alternatives outlined through my website - www.charliehooker.co.uk

website: WilhelminaWeb