The periodic observation of the sky sparked in me a sudden curiosity about astronomy. As I began researching the subject, I found myself wondering how far the limits of perception could be pushed — how many possible skies might exist, and how light would behave within them. The photographs in this series aim to represent these Speculative Skies.

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I found myself wondering how far the limits of perception could be pushed — how many possible skies might exist, and how light would behave within them.

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The choice of focal plane was critical for directing attention towards light, colour, and atmosphere, deliberately removing any reference to specific locations or landscape features beyond the horizon. Pointing the camera directly at the horizon — conventionally represented as a single straight line — here becomes a reference to infinity. By shifting the focal plane, this horizon line thickens and distorts with the light, expanding the imagined possibilities of the infinite universe.

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A variety of film stocks were chosen as the medium for this project, each selected to achieve a specific aesthetic in the creation of the Speculative Skies. The grain becomes more pronounced through the deliberate absence of sharp detail, creating a texture reminiscent of the stardust seen in space imagery. The colour shifts also highlight the subjective nature of both photography and human perception, demonstrating how the same subject, under similar conditions, can appear in countless different ways.

About
Originally from Spain, Adela Gomez is based in Dublin, Ireland, where she moved after graduating in Architecture from the University of Granada in 2012. Her photographic practice draws inspiration from literature, music, and science, often seeking to give visual form to non-visual subjects. She works with simple elements in which process and experimentation occupy a central role, employing analogue techniques to reinforce both aesthetic and concept. Adela co-founded Ambacht in 2020 as an architecture and visual arts practice and was awarded the Bursary Award by the Irish Arts Council in 2023.

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