John HilliardCamera Recording its Own Condition (7 Apertures, 10 Speeds, 2 Mirrors) 1971

John Hilliard started out as a sculptor. He became interested in photography as a means of recording his work, which was often ephemeral. Gradually he became aware of the inadequacy of a single photo to convey visual reality, and he began working with photographic series.

This series consists of photos of Hilliard's own camera, taken using mirrors and different combinations of aperture and shutter speed. Hilliard's fingers can be seen operating the camera. Photography is both the medium and the subject of the work, giving not a picture of 'reality', but different versions of reality.