Jason Pettit

Jason’s artistic journey began with a deep connection to the beauty that enveloped him. The landscapes he called home served as his canvas, and his camera became the instrument to immortalize the ever-changing moods of nature.

An ardent lover of nature's splendor, he thrives on immersing himself in the tranquil surroundings, allowing the raw beauty to guide his creative instincts. His crafted works are testaments to his unwavering attention to the smallest details of nature, each frame carefully composed to evoke a sense of awe and wonder in the viewer's heart.

Join me on this visual expedition into the heart of nature's majesty, where art and soul intertwine seamlessly. Be inspired by the boundless love he holds for his homeland and the awe-inspiring beauty he tirelessly preserves through his lens.

1. I noticed that you frequently tagged 'element photography' in your captivating Instagram posts. Could you elaborate on what element photography means to you and how you approach this unique genre in your artistic process?

#elementsphotomag is a really great landscape photography magazine I subscribe to. I’ve had one image in it so far and I believe it to be one one of the best photography magazines out there.

2. Your love for nature is evident in your beautiful photography. How do you balance showcasing the grandeur of nature while distilling the essence of a scene to its elemental beauty?

I do love nature. I think all of us who strive to create meaningful images of nature are doing it for the love of these places. I began my photography journey chasing good light, and grand scenes. After doing this for a few years I found the process repetitive and unfulfilling. It’s difficult to find the ould of a place when the main feature of most of your work is just an amazing sky, it takes up too much of the attention. I began focusing on smaller scenes after reading and viewing the works of Eliot Porter, a well known American landscape photographer from the middle of last century. His work convinced me that I could still create impactful photos of nature by concentrating on the smaller, more subdued scenes. In reference to distilling the essence of nature in my photography, I think that over the years I’ve been able to tune into a landscape to connect with t’s true spirit. This comes from photographing areas which I’ve been surrounded by for my whole life, I try to become part of the story of these places to foster a relationship there.

3. Minimalism is a hallmark of your photography style. Can you describe the thought process behind your decision to remove distractions and emphasize the fundamental elements in your images?

Beyond minimalism, which is the absence of things, my kind of minimalism is more in the message instead of the visuals sometimes.My goal is to present an image which, although it may be centered in chaos (woodlands), still has a clear message, either using the overall structure of the scene, or something that stands out. So minimalism, to me, also means a direct message regardless of the number of items in the frame. I’m very careful in the field while composing my scenes. I pay close attention to all of the borders of the photo to ensure there are no distracting elements which don’t belong to my intended message. I find it helpful to have at least the beginning of an idea of what the image will be about, this helps me decide what to include, and what to leave out. I also try to give the important elements in my images “room to breath”. This means allowing separation between one subject and another, as well as the borders of the photograph to aid with the visual flow.

4. Winter scenes are a prominent feature in your captivating Instagram feed. What draws you to photographing winter landscapes, and how do you create visually compelling compositions that evoke the serenity of the season?

Winter is my favorite season to photograph. As photographers we’re always fighting distracting elements that are trying to invade our compositions. The riot of vegetation in summer, for instance, can really complicate a scene. In winter these distractions are eliminated, especially when they are covered with a nice uniform layer of snow. Winter scenes are just simpler, and provide more opportunities to create photographs with a clear and direct message ... .there's also much fewer people around to get in the way! Also, winter is such a time of solitude and reflection, and these are themes which I enjoy working with.

5. Your works resonate with a sense of tranquility and harmony. How do you ensure that your photographs convey emotions and tell a powerful visual story through the careful arrangement of essential elements?

I think that when searching for scenes to photograph, if you are in tune with the experience, the scenes you are naturally attracted to are ones where there is a personal emotional attachment. Basically a metaphor of your own feelings and emotions. This is called Equivalence, and it’s the most important aspect of my successful photographs. The viewer should be able to see there is something going on in the image beyond the object in it, a human connection that is a translation of a personal experience.

6. Nature's woods and water play a significant role in your photographic art. How do you find subjects that best represent the interplay between human experience and the captivating splendors of the natural world?

I have a deep connection to my home. I’ve always lived where I live, and so I’ve really come to be familiar with all of the secret places and different types of environments it has. I live on an island and so water inevitably has become part of my connection to my home. If I were to make a suggestion to a photographer on how they could create more meaningful work, I would tell them to photograph in areas that are meaningful to them. This is usually around one's home. You don’t need to go on a long trip to an unfamiliar place to take great photographs. In fact, this can have the opposite effect, at least for myself. When I travel, I struggle much more to make meaningful photographs than I do when I’m surrounded by the comfort of my own habitat.

7. Your artistic journey showcases a distinctive visual voice and style. Can you take us through the process of developing your signature approach to photography and the steps you took to refine your elemental perspective?

Usually when I’m in the field, and I find an interesting scene I have a basic idea of how I want the end result to look like. This helps me capture the image as close to the end result as possible in camera. Obviously, there is editing afterwards but the base for the photograph is stronger when you can imagine how you would like it to look like a print. When I do edit, I usually stick to the basics in Lightroom, dodging burning, contrast and white balance adjustments, also the curves adjustment. I tend to leave color alone since I’m color blind and some colors look different to me than to others. I feel that this reserved approach to editing pushes me to be better in the field, and better preserves my original emotions when I was first motivated to make the image.

8. The subjects you choose often possess an ethereal quality, transcending everyday scenes. How do you seek out these rare moments and encapsulate them in your images, creating a connection between the viewers and the ethereal elements?

I believe that the most important thing you need to be a photographer is imagination. Without imagination you are simply documenting a scene. I draw heavily from my own life experiences, books I’ve read, movies I’ve watched. These fantasy lands have inspired me to seek out similar landscapes in real life. When I find them, I can sometimes tease out the fantasy through creative camera techniques, and imaginative editing. I try to make my photographs look the same as how I remember seeing the scene in the field with my own eyes. The camera is a harsh recorder of reality, and so it can be difficult to bend it to your goal of making an emotional photograph. Try to learn how your camera sees, it records all data whereas our eyes subconsciously subtract distracting items and apply an “imagination filter” on a scene…the camera won’t agree with you.

9. Your photography evokes a profound sense of appreciation for the environment and the need to preserve its beauty. How do you hope your works inspire viewers to embrace a deeper connection with nature and the essential elements it embodies?

I do hope that when others view my photography, they gain a little more appreciation for nature. As an avid nature lover this theme inevitably enters my work, and I’m very happy it does.

10. As someone who practices photography as a part-time hobby, can you share the path you've taken in developing your self-identification as a photographer, later as an artist and how this personal growth has influenced your creative approach, resulting in a unique artistic vision that shines through your captivating images.

When I first began taking photography seriously I had no idea where to start. I bought a cheap camera and just started learning how to use it via the internet mostly. After a time I began to become more interested and began seeking out other photographers whose work appealed to me. These were mostly grand landscape photographers but some of them had great books with excellent essays which I learned a lot from on how to create a photograph which was engaging to the viewer. From there I just practiced and read about photography every spare moment I had. Over the years my continued learning has evolved my style to what it is today, and I expect it will continue to evolve. I never want to be done learning about photography. If you stop learning and settle for too long without trying to improve your work then it will kill the creativity. I am leaning more towards photography as art these days, because I find it more personally fulfilling. In the end, you don’t find a personal style, it finds you. It’s a kind of subconscious thing. I suggest not thinking about it too hard or it may elude you. What’s that old adage, “you only find what you’re looking for when you aren’t searching for it.”.

Thanks Jason Pettit and please find more his works on @jasonpettit.photography

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