Photos of bullets cut in half: Sabine Pearlman’s series showcases the dangerous beauty of “Ammo”

Sabine Pearlman's photo series "Ammo" makes a serious impact. Photographed in a World War II bunker in Switzerland last October, the series features images of ammunition that have been cut in half. Pearlman shot a total of 900 cross-sections of ammo, documenting the meticulous and dangerous beauty that lies beneath the bullets' casings.



"I was originally intrigued by the ambiguous nature of the subject matter," she says. "The cross-sections reveal a hidden complexity and beauty of form, which stands in vast contrast to the destructive purpose of the object. It is a representation of the evil and the beautiful, a reflection of the human condition."



We interviewed Pearlman about the process of photographing the ammo and what she hopes to convey with these strangely exquisite images.



To see more of Pearlman's work, visit her website and her Facebook page. If you like these shots, you should also check out photographer Beth Galton's captivating photo series featuring food that has been cut in half.



Imaging Resource: How was the ammo cut in half? Was this a dangerous process?



Sabine Pearlman: It is a dangerous process, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing! The ammo was cut in half by a munitions specialist. He created a technique to defuse the rounds and then cut them in half.

Photo by Sabine Pearlman

IR: What gear and what kind of set-up did you use on this project?



SP: I traveled to Switzerland with two Profoto D1 monolights -- the automatic voltage adjustment makes them easy to use abroad. The photographs were taken with my Nikon D800 and a macro lens. I had two compact light stands, two umbrellas, a tripod, my MacBook Pro (I shot tethered), a ColorMunki, and a bunch of extension cords and adapters. I also brought a warm jacket and a thermos with hot coffee. It gets really cold inside a bunker that’s built into a mountain. The coffee also helped fight the jet lag.

Photo by Sabine Pearlman

IR: What were you trying to convey with this series?



SP: These cross-sections represent the intersection of exquisite craftsmanship, stunning beauty, and issues of morality. They spark questions about our human existence.

Photo by Sabine Pearlman

IR: What's next for you?



SP: Some exhibitions are lining up this fall. My current projects deal with "Memory Objects" or simply, "STUFF,"the stuff we collect and hang on to.

(Via Junk Culture)



(All images used with permission of the photographer.)

Photo by Sabine Pearlman

Photo by Sabine Pearlman

Photo by Sabine Pearlman

Photo by Sabine Pearlman

Photo by Sabine Pearlman

Photo by Sabine Pearlman



