When I was working on the Landing Sites images, it occurred to me that if one were to literally “dive into” the seascapes that I was making images of, one should theoretically be able to see the actual material conjunctions of internet cables that I was trying to learn how to “see.”
NSA/GCHQ-Tapped Undersea Cable
Atlantic Ocean, 2015
C-Print
60 × 48 in.
North Pacific Ocean, 2016
C-Print
48 × 72 in.
To do this project, I learned how to scuba-dive, learned a little bit of bathymetry and underwater navigation, and started thinking about and practicing some conceptual approaches to underwater photography.
NSA/GCHQ-Tapped Undersea Cable
Atlantic Ocean, 2015
C-Print
48 × 60 in.
To locate these cables under the oceans, I had to find places that met a couple of criteria: they had to be at a reasonable depth (not more than around 120’), in places where the water would be relatively clear, and places where the cables wouldn’t be buried under sand. This led me to zero in on a handful of sites in Florida, Hawaii, Guam, and Australia.
