by Nicki Gwynn-Jones
This year I have decided to take my work in a new direction by photographing landscapes. I am excited by this, as this gives me another opportunity to develop my love of depicting movement in a photograph. Using slower shutter speeds and intentional camera movement I find that it is possible to capture familiar scenes in a more abstract and impressionistic way and by allowing the camera to move with my breath I feel that I am able to connect with the landscape on a more powerful level. I use a neutral density filter on the lens and apply a contrast boost in post processing, but no other effects are used.
With my high key bird images I attempt, in camera as much as possible, to distill the subjects down to their purest form in order to forge an intimate connection, thus emphasising the essence of the birds, their ‘otherness’, grace and beauty or even their humour. I am particularly drawn to water birds and by shooting into the light in order to render the backgrounds white, post processing is kept to a minimum.
Movement shows us how to be free and uninhibited, and it connects us to the rhythms of life that we all share.
I print on acid free Permajet Fine Art photographic paper which gives the images a distinctive and artistic look - almost that of a watercolour painting.
In May 2012 I was awarded a Fellowship by the Royal Photographic Society. My work hangs in private collections all over the UK and also in Spain, Mallorca, the USA and Brazil.