Zak van Biljon

Wetterhorn, Bern

2020

Dammagletscher Uri 2020 Edition 1, AP. Pigment print on Canson photographic rag 310g, mounted on dibond in smoked oak wood frame with museum glass. Framed: 144 x 128 x 7 cm. Other ...

Kalakwa 1, Khomas Region, 2018 Edition of 2 Pigment print on Canson photographic rag 310g, mounted on dibond in smoked oak wood frame with museum glass. Framed: 68 x 93 x 3 cm Other editions in 3 sizes, 3-2-1 + AP To get a fresh look at natures beauty in a modern era, Zak van Biljon went beyond the visible spectrum to capture these vivid images. The technique, developed for military surveillance and crop surveys, captures near-infrared light: wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that fall between what we see as red and the longer wavelengths used for thermal imaging. The pigment in plant leaves, chlorophyll, strongly absorbs visible light which they use as a source of energy in the process of photosynthesis. The cell structure of the leaves, on the other hand, strongly reflects near-infrared light. A strong absorption at these wavelengths would only result in overheating the plant and possibly damaging the tissues. The human eye is unable to perceive infrared light but it is exactly this reflected energy, which reacts with infrared-sensitive material to create electric pinks and vibrant reds. The idea of landscapes is not landscape by itself. Nothing exists by itself but only through perception. Our perception, however, is subject to both individual watching and classifying what we see. The classification is strongly subdued to the imagery with which we are confronted every day. The famous Windows computer desktop image “Bliss” and others of this kind have become a kind of nature of which we believe that is is “true” nature. Pictures of natures are not about falsifying nature itself but are reflecting our perception of nature. What kind of image do we have? On social media channels user are sharing zillions of filtered photos of nature...

Rothko 2020 Edition 1, AP. Pigment print on Canson photographic rag 310g, mounted on dibond in grey oak wood frame with museum glass. Framed: 144.6 x 128 x 7 cm Other editions in 3 ...

Meteora, Greece 2018 Edition 1/5. Pigment print on Canson photographic rag 310g, mounted on dibond in smoked oak wood frame with museum glass. Framed: 35 x 39 x 3 cm To get a fresh look at natures beauty in a modern era, Zak van Biljon went beyond the visible spectrum to capture these vivid images. The technique, developed for military surveillance and crop surveys, captures near-infrared light: wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that fall between what we see as red and the longer wavelengths used for thermal imaging. The pigment in plant leaves, chlorophyll, strongly absorbs visible light which they use as a source of energy in the process of photosynthesis. The cell structure of the leaves, on the other hand, strongly reflects near-infrared light. A strong absorption at these wavelengths would only result in overheating the plant and possibly damaging the tissues. The human eye is unable to perceive infrared light but it is exactly this reflected energy, which reacts with infrared-sensitive material to create electric pinks and vibrant reds. The idea of landscapes is not landscape by itself. Nothing exists by itself but only through perception. Our perception, however, is subject to both individual watching and classifying what we see. The classification is strongly subdued to the imagery with which we are confronted every day. The famous Windows computer desktop image “Bliss” and others of this kind have become a kind of nature of which we believe that is is “true” nature. Pictures of natures are not about falsifying nature itself but are reflecting our perception of nature. What kind of image do we have? On social media channels user are sharing zillions of filtered photos of nature...

Shil, Schwyz 2017 Edition 1/1, AP Pigment print on Canson photographic rag 310g, mounted on dibond in smoked oak wood frame with museum glass. Framed: 144 x 144 x 4 cm Edition in 3 sizes, 3-2-1 + AP To get a fresh look at natures beauty in a modern era, Zak van Biljon went beyond the visible spectrum to capture these vivid images. The technique, developed for military surveillance and crop surveys, captures near-infrared light: wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that fall between what we see as red and the longer wavelengths used for thermal imaging. The pigment in plant leaves, chlorophyll, strongly absorbs visible light which they use as a source of energy in the process of photosynthesis. The cell structure of the leaves, on the other hand, strongly reflects near-infrared light. A strong absorption at these wavelengths would only result in overheating the plant and possibly damaging the tissues. The human eye is unable to perceive infrared light but it is exactly this reflected energy, which reacts with infrared-sensitive material to create electric pinks and vibrant reds. The idea of landscapes is not landscape by itself. Nothing exists by itself but only through perception. Our perception, however, is subject to both individual watching and classifying what we see. The classification is strongly subdued to the imagery with which we are confronted every day. The famous Windows computer desktop image “Bliss” and others of this kind have become a kind of nature of which we believe that is is “true” nature. Pictures of natures are not about falsifying nature itself but are reflecting our perception of nature. What kind of image do we have? On social media channels user are sharing zillions of filtered photos of nature...

Les Fleurs, 2020 Edition 1 AP. Pigment print on Canson photographic rag 310g, mounted on dibond in grey oak wood frame with museum glass. Framed: 144.6 x 1...

Majesty 41 x 59" Ed. of 10, Framed. A resolutely minimalist and suggestive approach to get to the essential. Not trying to show a subject for what it is, but for what it expresses....

49" x 70" Ed. of 8 $9,800 & larger 41" x 59" Ed. of 10 $6,800 36" x 50" Ed. of 6 $5,200 30" x 42" Ed. of 6 $3,600 In this photograph, Lenoir captures a calming seascape featuring a...

Crystal Wave The curve of an excited wave sweeping to its apex, it is destined to reach the Hampton's shore. 41 x 59" Ed. of 10, Framed Framed in a white wood shadow box. Other siz...

Hamptons Blue A dynamic beach scenery of crystal blue waves crashing at their apex. 41 x 59" Ed. of 10, Framed Framed in a white wood shadow box. Other s...

Tumult II 30" X 42" Ed. of 10, Unframed $3,600 Framing options range from $400 to $800 Also available in 40*60" A resolutely minimalist and suggestive approach to get to the essen...

Blue worlds 32" X 45" Ed. of 10, Framed $3,600 42" X 60" Ed. of 10, Framed $7200 49x70" to 71 x 98 from $9,600 A resolutely minimalist and suggestive approach to get to the essent...