Backpack Obscura
Cornwall based artist and adventurer Oliver Raymond Barker uses a custom made ‘backpack’ camera obscura to create large format photographs in remote locations. 2023 sees the start of an ambitious new work that will see him swimming and towing his camera gear with the RuckRaft to access remote caves and coves along the Cornish coast.
The following film by Cato Lauvli and narrated by Chris Littlewood, documents and describes Oliver’s process of using his ‘backpack obscura’ in Norway as he exhibited ‘Trinity’ at NŌUA gallery.
TRINITY & THE Backpack Obscura
The images created for Oliver’s first book, Trinity, originate from 20 x 24” analogue paper negatives, exposed in a ‘backpack’ camera obscura - essentially a large portable pinhole camera that he can carry on his back, create large analogue photographs with and sleep in too.
“I see the Backpack Obscura as an anti-camera, one that does not strive for the resolution of traditional photographic devices but instead seeks to capture the essence of the land whilst also providing shelter from the elements.”
In November of last year Oliver exhibited his Trinity project at NŌUA in Norway near The Lofoten Islands.
“Being in this beautiful, cold water location was a great opportunity to test out an idea I want to develop in Cornwall this year – swimming and towing my camera gear to access remote caves, coves and coastal locations.”
ATLANTIC OBSCURA, 2023
In 2023, Oliver starts a new project – the ‘Atlantic Obscura’. It will see him use the RuckRaft to swim and tow his custom made ‘Backpack camera obscura’ and other image making gear into inaccessible coves along the Cornish coast to “capture the essence of these wild ocean landscapes, whilst also reflecting on the urgent need to save them for the wellbeing of the earth and future generations.”
Oliver needed the right gear to operate efficiently in these landscapes and make the work the best it can be.
“The RuckRaft was perfect for the job - it’s very robust and super easy to inflate and set up, even in gale force winds. I loaded it with over 10kg of my gear and hardly noticed I was towing anything.”
Other partners for the project include Cultivator Cornwall, NŌUA and our friends at Finisterre
Carousel photography by Thor Brenne. Drone photography (first and last image) by Cato Lauvli.