The gifts of water exhibited in 35 photos
FOLLOWING the success of Water Light 2015 and 2016, photographer Simon Sephton presents a breathtaking range of 35 new pictures in his exhibition Water Light 2017.
Acclaimed for his studies of water, in which he has specialised for almost two decades, Sephton sets out to raise awareness of the beauty of this most precious resource, but also to explore the interplay of life, light and water rather than the horrors of drought.
His photographs capture the gifts of water most rarely noticed – the ever-changing, swirling light patterns; the reflections and mirrors created by the water’s skin; the colours of light – from ochre and amber to cerulean and a violet sky. In his photos, water is “held still” so that the viewer can feel and see the confluence of memory, passion and reverence. His works are finished with beautiful printing on German etching paper using archival inks and are timeless objects to enjoy.
“Now more than ever we need to be conscious of the beauty and preciousness of water. I have had to search further and wider to source elements to photograph,” says Sephton.
“As the current drought raises the stakes in water conservation, I hope that my new images will heighten awareness of water as both a beautiful and an essential resource, and help to forge a deeper appreciation of the importance of water.
“As the principal substance of our bodies and the planet, water is ultimately the nurturer and common element of all life. If we get to appreciate it as being beautiful as well as essential, we might learn to value it more profoundly.”
Sephton has been taking photographs ever since he first used an old box camera at the age of 7. He developed his passion through many hours in a darkroom during his school days, where he won regional photographic awards, and his first job was as a 17-year-old darkroom assistant at The Star newspaper in Johannesburg. The arrival of the digital age coincided with his widening exploration of the mountains of the Cape peninsula, and he soon developed a passion for water photography in particular.
Water Light 2017 will run at The Forge, 12 Windsor Road, Kalk Bay from Wednesday, December 6 until Thursday, December 21. The exhibition will be open daily from 9.30am to 5pm, including weekends.
The exhibition will be opened on Wednesday December 6 at 6pm by photographer and journalist Nicky Newman and water expert and geologist Rowena Hay, founder of Umvoto Africa. Entrance to the exhibition is free. Visit www.simonsephton.com