Reuben Wu, “Lux Noctis” Series
For his ongoing series Lux Noctis, Reuben Wu, the Chicago-based photographer, utilizes modified drones as aerial light sources, illuminating obscure landscapes in a way that makes each appear new and unexplored.
The light from his GPS-enabled drones create a halo effect around some of the presented cliffs and crests when photographed using a long exposure. An elegant circle of light traces the flight of the drone, leaving a mark only perceptible in the resulting photograph.
“I see it as a kind of ‘zero trace’ version of land art where the environment remains untouched by the artist, and at the same time is presented in a sublime way which speaks to 19th century Romantic painting and science and fictional imagery.” – Reuben Wu