Trevor Paglen’s world consists of black. The professional geographer, author and artist studies the “black world” of the government.

After years of researching public documents, Paglen was able to uncover information on secret CIA flight plans and missions to create a body of work that merges geology and art through photo images.

Although he admits it’s not easy to learn government codes, Paglen’s diligence has led him to visit and photograph “black sites," also known as secret areas, like Area 51, the top-secret military base where the US Air Force experiment with mysterious weapons and aircrafts.

“[My photos are] pushing the limits of human vision as far as it will go,” Paglen said.

He stresses that it is not illegal to photograph these sites as long as one stays on the outskirts of the restricted areas.

On Nov. 29, Paglen discussed his art in a lecture sponsored by the SF State College of Creative Arts in partnership with KQED’s “Spark,” a weekly educational television show that highlights Bay Area arts.

“I’ve never experienced an artist so politically driven,” said Elyse Kluver, a senior majoring in Fine Arts. “Art makes us feel we can relate to it instead of telling us what it is. I’m interested in seeing his photos--I think it would be a breath of fresh air to interpret them.”

Paglen, currently completing his PhD from Berkeley, created a series of landscape photographs of "black sites" by using astrophotography techniques. Using a highly magnified telephoto lens, he is able to zoom in and enhance his subject, allowing the viewer to see images that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.

He is also a member of the CIA Alumni Association, a group of former CIA members. He joined after writing letters to them about his interest in the field. Although the members can’t go into detail about many of the questions he asks, Paglen still tries.

“I think [the CIA is] something one is tempted to be afraid of,” Paglen said, regarding researching these dark areas of the government. “But for several reasons one should stand up to one’s own fears.”

Kluver’s watercolor professor, Gail Dawson, told her about Paglen and thought she would be interested in hearing him speak.

“I am energized and interested in his practice because of its combination of intellectual rigor, depth and humor,” Dawson said.

Kristin Farr, Education Project Supervisor of the “Spark” program, is intrigued by Paglen’s art work.

“The subject matter can be extremely eye-opening and mind-blowing and may even incite a sense of fear or anger about what our government does with our tax dollars behind closed doors,” Farr said. “[But] he makes sure to find the humor in his discoveries, keeping his audience engaged and entertained.”

Farr said she thinks art can be a means of recording history and she thinks Paglen does a good job of communicating that aspect through his photos.

“I am fascinated by the way he turns his discoveries as a doctoral candidate of geography into striking images that convey much more than meets the eye,” she said. “I think he’s brilliant and I’m crossing my fingers that he doesn’t ‘disappear’.”

Paglen’s new book, "I Could Tell You but Then You Would Have to Be Destroyed by Me: Emblems from the Pentagons Black World" is coming out at the end of this year. The book focuses on 75 patches given out by the US military to those who work on secret missions.