ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Who am I?

I’m a contemplative outdoor photographer, with a passion for sailing.

“Contemplative” photography? What’s that? Well, it’s the closest I can get to describe art that aims to convey a deeper, even a spiritual, meaning.

I try to create photographs that will encourage a reflective state of mind. That will support viewers as they look more deeply into life, into their surroundings, into themselves.

While I love the fact that many of my photographs portray beautiful sights, the crucial thing is to tell a genuine story that initiates a dialogue with the viewer.

How did I develop?

I grew up in the tiny community of Pine Grove, in the Ontario countryside. Those years had a profound effect on my love for the natural world and my photographic perspective. As a young adult, I started to take pictures with the equipment available to me, at first 35mm film, later point-and-shoot cameras.

The most significant step in my development, however, was a complete surprise. In 2012, my adult son decided to upgrade from the excellent digital camera he owned, to one that was even better. He said he’d been so impressed with the quality of my point-and-shoot images that he wanted me to have his “old” camera.

For the first time, I had serious control over my photographs, and the pixel quality was outstanding. Since then, I have upgraded camera bodies and lenses, but I remain grateful for that initial gift, which transformed my photographic journey.

Methodology

I’m always interested in technique in the field, but my greatest concern is this: What will draw someone’s eye to this photograph and keep it there? How can I translate what I’m seeing into a compelling image? How can I frame it so the viewer will want to reflect on what they see?

While the actual photography process is extensive and exciting – snap, snap, snap, lots of pictures, no, wait, look at it from over there, snap again – the editing process is intensive and immersive. Maybe one picture in a thousand has that contemplative quality, and this special image deserves the ultimate in time and attention.

That’s when I get technical, adjusting color balance, managing highlights and shadows, sharpening, cropping. Often, I’m lost in a single image, forgetting to eat, trying just one more thing that will make this image stand out.

Photographic narrative

Along the way, I discovered how story-telling can boost the impact of photographs. I began to write narratives that set my pictures in context.

I was only 13 years old when I discovered my calling as a journalist, writing for the local Woodbridge News ("Tow Truck Pulls Oil Tanker From Ditch" was my first story). Since then I’ve written – with great delight – for television, newspapers, and magazines, along with books.

Nowadays, I get the greatest satisfaction from enriching my images with a few well-chosen words.

New perspectives

Two decades ago, Esther and I learned to sail. To this day, we’re awestruck that our boat Second Wind can be propelled solely by the movement of air, while we enjoy the gentle sound of water rippling against the hull. Second Wind has served as my camera platform in many astonishing and photogenic locations.

Then, in 2017, I discovered the dramatic potential of photography by drone. Earlier in my life, flying paragliders and paramotors, I found the view from the air profoundly inspiring.

Now, flying an aerial camera has again transformed my work, allowing me to capture patterns and perspectives which were once unimaginable.

I’m delighted to send my camera aloft, keeping my feet firmly - safely - planted here below. I’ve also learned to fly a drone from the boat, combining platforms, as you can see in the Blog.

My goals

Why all this?

Partly, I’m just curious.

It gives me joy to discover, to capture, and to share the sublime, astonishing reality that surrounds us. I want to show you images that no one else may ever have seen or captured.

I hope to encourage viewers to stop for a moment, look more deeply into our world, develop a greater consciousness of its riches, its diversity. See the momentary images they might otherwise have missed, hidden beauty, evanescent patterns, ironic contradictions.

Many of the subjects I’ve chosen to photograph attest to the beauty of our fragile planet. Some reveal the wounds we have inflicted. It’s pretty clear to me that if we continue to show disdain for our mother Earth, she will retaliate for our exploitation with heat, drought, fire, storms, and floods even more intense than the disasters we have recently experienced.

My greatest goal is to inspire each of us to love, to respect, and to safeguard our glorious environment. To honor and cherish mother Earth. To help protect everyone who will suffer from worsening climate change.

If you’d like a comprehensive view of my photographic work, please visit the Galleries. I hope you’ll think about hanging my photographs on your walls. And I trust that these images will encourage you to reflect, perhaps arousing you, surprising you, warming you, or offering inner peace.

Timothy Bentley