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Lethal lake natron calcifies animals into stone-like corpses

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  • Lethal lake natron calcifies animals into stone-like corpses

    Lethal lake natron calcifies animals into stone-like corpses

    calcified flamingo, lake natron, 2010
    image © nick brandt 2013 / courtesy of hasted kraeutler gallery, NY

    While traveling northern tanzania for a pictorial journey of east africa, british photographer nick brandt unexpectedly came upon a number dead birds and bats that appeared to be made out of stone. the animals had washed up along the shoreline of the lethal lake natron, a salt lake located near the kenyan border. the waterway contains a deadly chemical composition — a very high soda and salt content — which causes any creature who dares to dip in to die, calcify, and remain perfectly preserved as they dry.

    brandt notes that the chemical level was so extreme, that while he was capturing the images, the ink stripped off his kodak film boxes within just a few seconds. the mummified species are the eerie aftermath of nature’s nightmarish unpredictability. for his monochrome portraits, brandt carefully removes the found birds from the water and places them in living positions, perching them on branches, and arranging them as floating figures on the stagnant shore. the posed compositions reanimate the lifeless animals, alive again in death. brandt has sent designboom images of the series of inanimate animals, which you can see below:



    Sorry about the non-capitalization. I don't know what happened. Other images at the link.

    DesignBoom
    "Alexa, slaughter the fatted calf."

  • #2
    That's pretty amazing. I'd like to cast some of those in concrete and make gargoyles out of them or something like that I think it would be supremely cool to have some skeletal hawk or whatever "guarding" a garden. And the humor possibilities of skeletal flamingoes in Florida are borderline endless.
    It's been ten years since that lonely day I left you
    In the morning rain, smoking gun in hand
    Ten lonely years but how my heart, it still remembers
    Pray for me, momma, I'm a gypsy now

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Adam View Post
      That's pretty amazing. I'd like to cast some of those in concrete and make gargoyles out of them or something like that I think it would be supremely cool to have some skeletal hawk or whatever "guarding" a garden. And the humor possibilities of skeletal flamingoes in Florida are borderline endless.
      I actually own and deploy skeleton flamingos every Halloween. Best $16.99 I ever spent.
      "Alexa, slaughter the fatted calf."

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      • #4
        Stunning photos.

        ... that I was gonna flag as bs until I read "for his monochrome portraits, brandt carefully removes the found birds from the water and places them in living positions.....".

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Gingersnap View Post
          I actually own and deploy skeleton flamingos every Halloween. Best $16.99 I ever spent.
          About 500 of those would be the best Halloween gag ever in Jupiter.
          It's been ten years since that lonely day I left you
          In the morning rain, smoking gun in hand
          Ten lonely years but how my heart, it still remembers
          Pray for me, momma, I'm a gypsy now

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by deudyurondame View Post
            Stunning photos.

            ... that I was gonna flag as bs until I read "for his monochrome portraits, brandt carefully removes the found birds from the water and places them in living positions.....".
            Then somebody should tell Brandt or the publisher of the photos that Bats hang unside down and not right side up. Look at the feet.
            Last edited by Frostbit; Thursday, October 10, 2013, 5:16 PM.
            If it pays, it stays

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            • #7
              There is something deeply disturbed about that photographer.
              Not where I breathe, but where I love, I live...
              Robert Southwell, S.J.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by phillygirl View Post
                There is something deeply disturbed about that photographer.
                Reminds me of the guy that makes all the weird Halloween animated movies.
                If it pays, it stays

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                • #9
                  This is art, not Bat Biology class. It's cool!
                  "Alexa, slaughter the fatted calf."

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Gingersnap View Post
                    This is art, not Bat Biology class. It's cool!
                    Actually it is chemistry, geology and some other things combined.

                    There have been several 'specials' on Lake Natron, that chronicle it's rise and fall.

                    It's an amazing geological/climate story.
                    Robert Francis O'Rourke, Democrat, White guy, spent ~78 million to defeat, Ted Cruz, Republican immigrant Dark guy …
                    and lost …
                    But the Republicans are racist.

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