Water seems to be all around us, and within us. Perhaps this ubiquitousness explains our casual overlook. If we talk of water, it tends to be when we suffer flood or drought. From our taps into our drains we have the apparent luxury of being profligate. Not all are as fortunate. Water is the most precious resource on our planet, and its supply is limited; some say that it will become a limiting factor before rising sea levels. Even the smallest stream or pool deserves our attention, and conservation. For nine years I’ve been making images of the patterns of flow and light in my local river, and I have yet to exhaust my supply of inspiration. Perhaps the Dove’s hidden beauties and the associations that it prompts may serve to emphasise water's precious nature.
As autumn approaches, the waters running into the River Dove in the Peak District National Park gain new energy. Sunlight through the canopy throws down sparks which the water catches, reflects and stretches: a natural mark-making that fascinates me. At times the contrast between light and dark renders the images monochromatic, at others colour is variously drawn from reflected foliage, blue sky, and stones on the bed. Each image is unique, the result of a single timed exposure with no camera movement, and reveals complex hydrological flows. Each represents a moment in time that is never to be repeated, something that was here, but is no longer.
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