Tim Durham

In this age of computer graphics one could easily mistake Tim Durham’s pictures

as computer generated and manipulated, and then be surprised to find they are photographs of a humble soap film. The effect is the same as you may see in diesel floating on wet streets, on the multi-coating of spectacle lenses, or on the protective layer of compact discs. Tim usually says, when asked, that these photographs are of bubbles, but strictly speaking, he says, this is untrue. They are rather of light interference on the minutely thin film that forms a bubble once blown.

Despite the peaceful, delicate and fragile appearance of a soap film, its lifetime is characterised by the most agitated commotion in the form of convective swirls driven by the relentless pull of gravity and molecular forces. Ultimately, this seals the fate of the film which vanishes in a violent explosion.

Born in 1963, Tim’s roots are in nature, abstract and travel photography, and over time his direction has shifted towards exploring the themes of entropy and physical memories of motion.

This exhibition was supplemented with information on the science of soap films and bubbles by Dr. Stefan Hutzler, Physics Department, Trinity College, Dublin. In addition to this, several workshops were planned to explore soap films experimentally.

‘Tim Durham's outstanding photographs are in themselves items of beauty which please scientists and the general public alike. However, they also give the layman a better feeling for scientific endeavour.’ Dr. Stefan Hutzler, Physics Department, Trinity College Dublin