Quiet Dawn, Disko Bay, Greenland
Nature's Elements
01 October 2015 - 06 November 2015 at The Lime Gallery, Settle
The theme of this exhibition, by Yorkshire-based photographer Ross Brown, is to explore the interplay between the elements of water, rock, and flora. Some photographs depict vast perspectives of the landscape, and aerial photography of meandering river deltas; others focus on more intimate geological details.
“Over the past few years I have been privileged to travel and explore the coast and mountains of Iceland and also further afield above the Arctic Circle in Sweden and Greenland. These remote, wild landscapes are the inspiration for ‘Nature’s Elements’.”
“I took the aerial photographs from a helicopter, providing a unique opportunity to view the landscape from a new perspective, and the emphasis on abstraction and flow became more apparent. In this series, I have included water as a key element in the aerial images.”
“I find the feeling of tranquility, solitude and remoteness in wilder landscapes to be unmatched and in these new environments it often takes days to connect with the slower pace of nature. For the majority of images it took significant time and patience for the final image to be composed. Repeat visits were necessary in order to become acquainted with the visual possibilities, and to realize the optimal light, tidal or wind conditions.
“When I looked at my work as a whole, I found there were three key elements: the colour and tones of autumnal flora, the flow and passage of water, and the detailed patterns in mountain and coastal geology. I hope the images represent the sense of calmness and wonder which I experienced and will provide inspiration to explore these remote landscapes."
Iceland Revealed
14 March 2014 - 14 April 2014 at The Lime Gallery, Settle
Ross Brown already has a track record as a fine art photographer of landscapes. His is known for his exquisitely balanced compositions and wonderful combinations of seasonal colour and light. This new departure – aerial landscapes of such scale, complexity and detail – is an exciting departure and brings his talents as a photographer even more to the fore.
Ross’ images were taken during a visit to Iceland in the summer of 2013. He took the photographs hanging out of a helicopter, in perfect conditions for capturing this other- worldly environment.
The collection majors on the extraordinary landscape of the Landmannalaugar (“the people’s pools”), in the southern highlands. The area is noted for its unusual geology. Multi-coloured rhyolite mountains and expansive lava fields. The mountains are in an eye popping variety of colours: pink, brown, green, yellow, blue, purple, black and white.
With climate changes making a big impact on the glacial landscape, these photographs create a unique and beautiful record of a point in time in a millennial landscape. They have an incredible painterly quality in their texture and detail, and reflect a deep appreciation of our precious environment
Ross Brown is a regular contributor to the John Muir Trust Wild Nature Diary and Calendar.
Moonrise over Jökulsárlon, Iceland