Mock Suns
Montréal
Andrew Hoekstra and Alli Melanson
21.12.2024, 8-11 PM
... from the third hour (9 am) until midday, we saw left and right from the Sun what looked like two other Suns: they did not shine like the big one, but smaller in appearance and radiance they reddened moderately. Above their circle a halo appeared, shining very brightly, extending in its breadth as if it were some kind of city. Inside this circle a half-circle appeared, similar to a rainbow, distinct in its fourfold color, in the higher part curved towards the two aforementioned Suns, touching them in an embrace of the Sun. [23]
What is that? Its nickname is Sun Dog because it follows the Sun the way a dog follows a person. It is also called a Mock Sun because it imitates the Sun and sometimes seems just about as bright. Most people don't notice because the Sun is bright and you're not supposed to look directly at it, but if you shield your eyes from direct sunlight and look around the Sun on a day with cirrus clouds you can see a Sun Dog. They typically appear as two coloured patches of light on either side of the sun and though rare, can in theory be seen anywhere in the world and in any season. Many people take a picture or video of sun dogs and then notice a strange dot in the image, right here, that thing dancing around is not a UFO it's the reflection of the Sun inside the glass of your smartphone's camera lens. When the camera moves, the dot moves. You'll get that Sun dot whenever you point your camera at a very bright light, whether it is the Sun, the moon or even a light bulb in a room. See how it disappears when you get out of the Sun?
- Andrew Hoekstra. Untitled. 2024. Aluminum, LED Lights, Security Screws. Dimensions Variable.
- Untitled (Accidental Camera Obscura 1). 2024. Digital print and artist frame. 16 x 19 in.
- Untitled (Accidental Camera Obscura 2). 2024. Digital print and artist frame. 10 x 14 in.
- Untitled (Accidental Camera Obscura 3). 2024.Digital print and artist frame. 11 x 17 in.
- Untitled (Accidental Camera Obscura 4). 2024. Digital print and artist frame. 12.5 x 15.5 in.
- Untitled (Accidental Camera Obscura 5). 2024. Digital print and artist frame. 16 x 14 in.
- Untitled (Accidental Camera Obscura 6). 2024. Digital print and artist frame. 9 x 12 in.
- Untitled (Accidental Camera Obscura 7). 2024. Digital print and artist frame. 10 x 12 in.
- Untitled (Accidental Camera Obscura 8). 2024. Digital print and artist frame. 12 x 14 in.
- Untitled (Accidental Camera Obscura 9). 2024. Digital print and artist frame. 12.5 x 15.5 in.