These images, taken from cars, show different ways that time and motion may be depicted in a photograph taken with a long shutter speed at night. All images were taken on Fuji 64 Tungsten film, at f/8 for 20 seconds. They were then digitized on a Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED scanner.

For the interior shots from the VW with the glowing dashboard, the camera was attached to the car’s headrests with a bungee cord. For the exterior photos from the yellow Honda, the camera was secured on the roof.

Here, the car is parked on the curb. The passage of time is shown by the lights of passing cars, with the “oldest” time on the left, moving to the “latest” time at the top and center of the frame as the lights move up the street.
With the car moving down the street, the representation of time is now reversed. The green lines in the center of the frame (the “oldest” time) becomes yellow and then red moving off to the sides (the "newest" time). Although the car is moving, it appears stationary. It is the traffic lights that appear to move and grow larger as they are approached. Time “stops” as the car waits at the red light.

Here, the “oldest” time is stopped for several seconds as the car continues to wait at the light. The intersection and street sign are clearly visible. When the light turns green, the car moves ahead. The trails of the green lights approach and pass the car on both sides.
Examine the remaining photos to see if you can
determine how to "read" time and motion in them.

To see the photos being shown at Castro Photo in March 2003,
check out the Night Trails page

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