At the time of its discovery, about 8 months after formation, radioactivity near the Elephant's Foot was approximately 8,000 roentgens, or 80 grays per hour,[2] delivering a 50/50 lethal dose of radiation (4.5 grays)[8] within five minutes.[2] Since that time the radiation intensity has declined enough that, in 1996, the Elephant's Foot was visited by the Deputy Director of the New Confinement Project, Artur Kornayev,[lower-alpha 1] who took photographs using an automatic camera and a flashlight to illuminate the otherwise dark room.[10]