Photo Essay by Philip Wood
Philip Wood shares his love of black and white photography and its rituals, for over 30 years, and those moments when natural light supports the subject or landscape, revealing its deep beauty, innocence, truth, authenticity.

I love the ritual of black and white film photography. From choosing the film and loading my camera, to the anticipation of reviewing my contact sheets and noticing when I feel some emotional impact.
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I love the ritual of black and white film photography. From choosing the film and loading my camera, to the anticipation of reviewing my contact sheets and noticing when I feel some emotional impact. Composition, cropping, choosing the paper, tone and format are all part of my creative journey. Generally when photographing I stay on the side of allowing the images to come to me rather than trying to seek them.

My connection with subject, the light, and the mood is essential as I reflect on the main intention of a particular shot. How much can I eliminate to make it stronger? Moving around the subject offers me different perspectives and opportunities. Remembering to breathe helps as I pay attention to composition, changing light, choice of lens, my settings, and depth of field. I often wait for those intimate moments of connection in nature or with people. I actually feel it in my body—when essence reveals itself, and I know something special has been created.

I always remember one teacher telling a photography class I attended 25 years ago “Let the tree see you …” stressing the importance of the relationship between not only you to the subject, also the subject’s relation to you. Bringing integrity and vulnerability to my work creates the opportunity for a deeper connection with the subject, providing space for magical possibilities to unfold.

My family, nature, and light, mixed with the stunning environment of Desolation Sound have all been a great source of inspiration over the past 30 years of taking black and white photographs. Sometimes I am rewarded with images that seem to reflect a timeless mood, simplicity and strength.

The photographs shown are primarily taken around Cortes Island British Columbia, that’s my rowboat! The exception is “Windows” which I took inside the Meditation Sanctuary at Findhorn in Scotland. I prefer working with natural light supporting the subject or landscape to be infused with their own beauty, waiting for a moment when innocence, truth, authenticity are simply yet powerfully revealed—keeping my work bare and real, with elements that are expressed more as an art than science.

Philip Wood
www.philipwood.com

All photographs: Copyright Philip Wood