Dracones et Equorum is a foundational photographic series developed through direct engagement with rare and endemic marine species found in the temperate waters of southern Australia.
Produced nearly a decade ago, the work continues to inform the direction of LLP Concepts — establishing an approach grounded in observation, process and the translation of natural forms into composed visual fields.
The series sits at the intersection of photography, material practice and natural history, combining in-situ image-making with historic photographic processes.
"Each of the palladium photographs he handcrafts is unique – fitting for the incredible natural beauty of the subject – just simple and elegant. Palladiotype photographs are considered the more enduring of the photographic print processes – juxtaposition to the fragile nature of the species."
-Ellie Young | Director - gold streets studios
The Work
To create the series, each image was composed underwater using a custom approach that introduced elements of studio photography into the natural environment.
Working alongside an assistant diver, temporary backdrops and specialised underwater lighting were carefully positioned behind the subject, allowing each creature to be isolated within its habitat. This process produced images that sit between documentation and constructed portraiture — maintaining the integrity of the environment while introducing a refined, studio-like clarity.
The resulting works capture species that are rarely encountered, many of which are unique to southern Australian waters.
“Like many traditional processes, palladium works need to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Each print is a handmade one-off and totes an impressive tonal range, which seems fitting to do justice to the in- credible natural beauty that Lynch’s images capture.”
- Lachlan Gardiner -Capture Magazine July/ August 2014
- Lachlan Gardiner -Capture Magazine July/ August 2014
Process & Material
Following image capture, the work transitions into a highly involved analogue process.
Each print is produced as a one-off palladiotype, with paper hand-coated in emulsion and chemical solutions prepared from raw components. This labour-intensive approach shifts the work from a purely photographic act into one of material construction.
The resulting prints carry a tonal depth and surface quality that references early scientific and exploratory imagery — drawing subtle connections to figures such as Joseph Banks and Charles Darwin, while remaining grounded in contemporary image-making.
The permanence of the palladiotype process stands in quiet contrast to the fragility of the species depicted.
Material Presence
Each work exists as a unique object.
The decision to move from machine-based reproduction to hand-crafted production introduces variation, depth and physical presence — qualities that continue to inform the way imagery is approached within LLP Concepts today.
Legacy & Collections
Works from Dracones et Equorum are held in private collections and have been exhibited in galleries internationally.
The series is also represented in the collection of the State Library of Victoria.
Relationship to Current Practice
While originally realised as a photographic exhibition, Dracones et Equorum now functions as a conceptual and material foundation for ongoing work.
The series directly informs current projects including:
Through LLP Concepts, the ideas first explored in this body of work — isolation, composition, surface and material translation — are extended into architectural and spatial contexts.