Back in the day when X-Rays were first used to reveal the human interior (by Thomas Edison of course, that inventor and scheming businessman), they were seen more as a novelty than a tool of medicine. Muckity mucks and those who chose to hob knob with them would be X-rayed the same as they would be photographed. It was common that a lady's calling card was an X-ray of her hand, proving that elegance and beauty an inherent part of her: skin and bone. But eventually it was discovered the blatant exposure to the high powered rays lead to severe burns, cancer, and for many (including Edison's assistant) a terrible death and X-Rays were shut off to the realm of science and medicine, where they could be studied, refined and put to better use. No more was the technology used to entertain and show the depths of beauty.
Fast forward a century and technological revolutions later and that novelty use of X-Ray is once again popular. This time however, the power is in the hands of artists as opposed to aristocrats and crafty businessmen. Photographer Brendan Fitzpatrick uses the medical tool to capture a new look at one of the oldest symbols of beauty: flowers. Selections from his "Floral X-Rays" series can be seen here, but visit his
website to view more of his work.
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