sub terra

I often use the camera to expose sites that are overlooked, invisible, ignored, or unseen. As creatures, we have spent an extremely high amount of energy and resources on developing infrastructure that supports our society and as time passes these interventions fade from our collective memory, yet we are paradoxically more reliant on them. sub terra seeks out one of these sublime creations that balance and deliver resources in order to maintain societal operation and stability.

The project began with an exploration of a steam power plant that has been in operation for over 100 years. The facility has shifted and grown but now supplies utilities, hot water, heating, cooling, power and data to over 200 structures. This is made possible through a labyrinth of more than 10 miles of underground utility tunnels; a surreal, sub terrestrial world of concrete and steel, steam and heat, darkness and light where conditions and temperatures range wildly from very well lit and mildly warm to dark, wet and 120˚F year round. I navigated several miles of the tunnels accompanied by composer Daniel Peterson (capturing ambisonic recordings of the plant) and our guide/power plant team member.