This blog post is comprising of a number of images that I have taken in the last couple of months which that I haven’t specifically gone out and taken for a shoot for this project. I wanted to include these past images as because I am starting to look at and explore the element of water and therefore as I am starting to explore the freedoms represented in water, through looking at it’s motions, textures and colors. I shall be doing future shoots using and experimenting with water however I believe these images are a starting point for my future shots I am planning on taking over Easter. In my future shots I want to try and take photographs that show a strong contrast between the physical and the metaphysical by portraying he elements in a variety of ways such as close ups vs macro or usingn light vs dark conditions. Therefore in these images I believe I have captured the two contrasting portrayals of nature through water being presented as more of a scientific view but also including various spiritual elements in it as well. Essentially therefore my process is to take photographs of elements that are found everyday but photograph them in a manner that invokes and reflects their spiritual connections in order to also highlight how humanity itself can reconnect with nature – referencing the story of Adam and Eve told in Genesis in the Bible.
This is an image of a sky line. I took it from a cliff looking outwards towards the horizon. I wanted to include a large outward looking landscape over a large distance of water. This is because it shows not only the scale of creationism in itself but also how furthermore the scale of continuous evolution and continuous change in nature. Creationists and Evolutionists both agree that change occurs, however it is the principles governing this process is disputed. Therefore I believe this image is inclusive of both theories in the sense that this image includes quite a potent sense of awe and wonder to it through the sea and sky formations that in itself appears spiritual as because of the similar colors and light – appearing somewhat connected. Also because of how I have shot the element of water in its naturalist form, how this is a still image of change occurring in nature and also how their are darker tones appearing somewhat earth like and less “heavenly”, this could appear to appeal to the evolutionist theory. However, personally for me, what particularly strikes me is how the tones and hues of light reflected from the sea in the distance is symbolic to the spiritual cause of the idea that the Earth was created for a purpose by God. This is because looking on over the horizon, the idea that the sea is somewhat connected to another realm is expressed therefore I believe in this image.
These next set of images I have included as I believe they successfully and effectively emphasize the idea in which spirituality governs the continuous evolution that occurs in nature. I believe this triplet of images communicate and express the realms of spirituality within water but also most importantly the freedoms found i nature. Arguably the freedoms given to us in nature could be given to us from a designer, allowing evolution in nature to occur freely. This therefore links back to the theory of creationism because as God first created the world, it says in the first verse of Genesis “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters”. Interestingly, I have utilized the elements of water and light as a strong feature of these images which I believe re-enforce this verse. This is symbolic because by expressing this relationship between light and water, it is representational not only just to the theory of creationism, but also how the freedom that is found in nature is one of beauty and is in a way, appears almost alive and lifelike. In doing this I believe that I am not only translating my own experience of spiritual encounters into this triplet of images, but also this links back to how as everything was created by God, just as they exist, they are worshiping God as these element have no known comprehension of intellect, understanding or morals. “Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him; yes, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:7)
These last two images are very similar to the triplet beforehand, in that they are quite surreal and abstract, not of the objects of the physical within the image. Te physical is very much just a normal stream, however the strong and powerful light tones add a metaphysical presence within the image which represents that water isn’t something ordinary but exists as a gift from God to nurture and support our existence. In the top image, there is a lot of light, reflecting the idea that white light in the water is something pure and is a gift from our creator to allow us to exist and in doing that exercise and overseer change. The bottom image includes a stronger use of colors and rough textures that are more delicate. This is effective because it represents a sense of peace to it, and therefore relates to the idea of creationsim as we are created to be at one with nature and because we aren’t, we/humanity don’t necessarily feel as peaceful as the processes of change in nature occurs.
I like these double images and have included them as they represent the real vs the fiction. For example, the beads of bubbles very much appear particle-like, however the motion and direction they are travelling in appears also reminiscent of the theory that change in nature occur for a purpose and in doing this is a celebration of the intricate and complex structure of the environment in which we live in. Beforehand, my water images weren’t so much about capturing change but rather more so about beauty and individual design. Contrastingly, here this image shows similar particles all moving in a similar direction, capturing the very process of change itself in nature. The how in these images are about capturing how change occurs in nature and how we have got from one place to another. The why in this image is why are the particles all together and why rare they moving in a particular direction – weakening the idea of individual freedom and strengthening the idea of nature’s change as being a collective freedom, one that serves all of the planet as one creation.
