TREADING WATERS
Johann Scott
I was introduced to photography at the age of twelve when a friend of my father’s came to visit. He was a photographer and took incredible long-exposure photos of waterfalls; I knew I wanted to try my hand as soon as I saw them. A few days later, I went out to a nearby river with a camera and a filter and came back with the first photos I was proud of. That was where it all started: I was given a camera of my own on my thirteenth birthday, I travelled the world with it and, as a result, I have now developed an outlet for my own creativity - something I think everyone should have the chance to do. Flowing water remains one of my favourite subjects to photograph, not just for being the start of my journey but also because it embodies a philosophy
It forces you to be patient, slow down, and see order emerge from chaos. These skills have assisted me in other styles of photography too, and have influenced my larger outlook on life. Sometimes, you have to linger a while to make a moment mean something more tangible - see things holistically, not just in isolation. Looking back on these photos, I distinctly remember all these places and the feelings from those times; the excitement to try something new, connecting to the history of my origins, and independently travelling with friends. To me, photography is more about the meaning behind the image than the image itself. What do you remember? How did you find this place? What we make are but markers of our own story, so here is my origin and part of my story so far.
This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 16.