Caleb Charland Has Created Alternative Batteries With Fruit And Photographed The Incredible Results
Photographer Caleb Charland often brings science and art together in his projects and this one is no different. What you’re looking at in these images is a series of long exposure photos of lights being powered by alternative battery sources such as; apples, vinegar and coins. Yep, no shit. So how does he do it? Well here’s what I found out about the apple battery shot:
He put a zinc-coated galvanized nail into each apple and a bare copper wire into the other end to create a current through the electrolytes (charged particles) in the fruit. Electrons flowed from the zinc electrode (where the zinc reacts with the acid in the apple) through the light and into the copper electrode, which transferred electrons back into the fruit. Every ten apples provided about 5 volts, powering an LED for several hours. Get that? And I’m sure it was the same process for the lime and orange photo. All three fruits have citric acid, am I right?
Here’s what Charland said about the apple shot:
I began installing the work at 9 in the morning. I had no frame of reference for how long the process would actually take. I didn’t want to start too early fearing I would get done too soon and potentially wear out the “batteries” before I could start my photographic exposure, thus wasting a lot of time and fruit. I worked all day and took no break, I was still wiring the orchard after sunset. I finished install at 8 pm then began my 4 hour exposure on photographic film. The final image was created using a large format camera that uses color film measuring 4×5 inches.
If you want to see him put it all together then watch the video.
And if you’re in London between 14th September – 10th November 2012 then you should go have a look at his installation. It’s in a group exhibition called ‘There’s Something Happening Here’ at the Brancolini Grimaldi gallery, 43 – 44 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4JJ
Via Colossal
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