MEDICINE
ZHEAD SHOT
The ‘Alderson Radiation Therapy Phantom’ is a life size
sculpture for testing the effects of radiotherapy. The model
hasexactlythesamedensityasarealhumanbody,andthe
2.5cm thickslicescanbefilledwithdifferenttypesofartificial
tissue for testing purposes. When asked why so many of the
machines he photographed seem sinister or eerie, Riedler’s
answerissimple:“Ifyouopenabodyitcanbeterrifying.The
machines reflect the complexity and fragility of life.”OPEN WIDE 3
This ‘dental simulation unit’ is one of a range of devices
medical students use to hone their dental surgery skills
before being let loose in clinical situations. The patient
simulators have a full set of teeth, movable jaws, latex skin,
andthesamerangeofmovementarealhumanwouldhave.
Like so many of the devices shot by Riedler, it has an
otherworldly quality.SHOW OF HANDSn
Sayhellototheseprosthetichands,wavingfromatest
station. Each one is opened and closed 1,000 times before
beingdeliveredforuse.Theprostheticsrespondtothetiny
electrical signals sent from the brain down the nerves of the
patient’s arm when they think about moving their hand.
“As a photographer you see that sort of thing and just have
to shoot it,” says Riedler. “You should see it when they are
all moving!”