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‘To make visible that there is something which can be conceived and which can neither be seen nor visible’
J F, Lyotard
Leotard’s definition of the Sublime in Art is a guiding principle behind my ambition in my Fine Art Photography practice. In my recent abstract landscape work it helped me find a way forward. My colour landscape photographs of Scotland, England, New Mexico and the American West, are an original method of portraying landscape, they are not intended to represent a place where the image was. Instead what cannot be expressed.
My inspiration stems from many things. Although it might not be considered contemporary to like the Romantics, like them I have a love of the land, inspired by the Scottish Countryside. I like to walk and climb around the sea edge, the hills, mountains, forests and woods; and experience directly the beauty of changing weather.
Many influences in my studies included Timothy O’Sullivan, Ansel Adams and Robert Adams; and my GSA tutor Thomas Joshua Cooper. More recent influences include Baudrillard’s post-modern writings about simulacrum. Mainly, it is my direct experience, being alone making pictures within a vast wilderness landscape.
I use many types of lens-based equipment, 35mm SLR, medium format, large format film cameras, and digital SLR cameras, as well as digital camcorders.
They all give quite different results. The editing process is time consuming, developing final pieces. Many proofs are created before the final work is ready for printing.
At present, I am making 40x30 inch light jet colour prints and I plan to take this method of working further.
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