INTERVIEW WITH OLIVER BARNETT
Mimorphic, Himalhlia, Limondium
1. Oliver, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a self-taught visual artist, who grew up in the Uk and now for the past 12 years living in Cape Town with my wife and 2 children! Initially, it was West African music that drew me to the continent, now it is the elemental scenery and floral diversity that demands my attention!
2. What does photography mean to you?
Genius technology that allows humans to share their most moving and instinctive moments in time. The alchemical fusion of light and matter, transferred to archival mediums, will never cease to amaze me.
Toroidal
3. Was there anything specific that you can remember that made you want to become a photographer?
I don’t really see myself as a photographer. I use the camera as a medium for trailing trace elements I encounter on my frequent walks in the landscapes around my home. I have always had a quiet confidence in my eye for an interesting composition and pursuing this interest led me to take it up more seriously…
4. What Inspires you?
The self-regulating ancient intelligence of nature. Indigenous cultures and their relationship to the Earth. Ancient stories and myths where humans are not the central characters. I want to create a visual narrative that inspires humans to reconnect with the subtleties of the natural world.
5. What makes the good picture stand out from the average?
This is entirely subjective, but within my process, there is a distinct point where the image comes to life and starts to ask the viewer questions. These questions will ideally be different for everyone. To my mind, there is no formula for this, which is why I find it so intriguing.
6. Among your works, which one is your favourite? Why?
I really don’t have a favourite, but there are a handful of images that seemed to pave the way for new ideas and techniques. Embryogenesis and Vertebral are two that come to mind. I love the images that seem to generate a will of their own, with no regard to any creative plan I may have laid down. This for me is a sign that I’m onto something strong.
Naledi
7. What kind of gear do you use?
I’m currently shooting with a Canon 5DSR for its large format printing capabilities. I mostly use a Zeiss 50mm Macro lens and my old favourite Canon 100mm L Macro lens.
8. What was your very first camera?
A Canon G5, which although has some manual settings was basically a point and shoot.
9. Did you go to school to study photography?
No, never. I learnt to compose on point and shoot cameras and learnt the manual settings over time according to my requirements. I don’t claim mastery in this, but know exactly what I want to achieve.
10. How long have you been a photographer?
5 years.
11. How much do you research your subjects before photographing them?
I tend to find subjects first then research them. I like to keep my mind fairly clear of too much data when on photography trips. Knowing things can often come in the way of broader more mysterious elements at play.
12. Could you please tell us something about your technique and creating process?
The Polymorphic series was an entirely new way of composing for me. I would collect samples of the plant, insect and whatever organic matter I came across, and make collages of photographs from sections that caught my eye. I then would digitally shape and sculpt the material until I felt the presence of something animate looking back at me. The sense of being in a conversation with something beyond our perception.
13. What do you do in your life besides photography?
Stand up paddling out into the stillness of the ocean. Family gatherings with great friends and food. I have a great interest in music and go to many festivals. I love animals. (we have quite a few at home).
Agadez
14. What are you working on at the moment?
I’m working on an amazing commission to visually represent the 5 elements of the Chinese medicinal cycle for a Cape Town based practice. I’ve also started an interesting new collaboration with a musician friend for the artwork for her next album, involving cymatics and photographing water patterns when exposed to various sounds. Even when I’m not working on a show, I’m always developing my style in the background.
15. A funny moment that happened to you on one of the days when you were shooting?
There have been a few. I’ve had Baboons raid my camera bag at Cape point looking for food when I turned my back for a second. I often find myself in quite difficult positions macro shooting particular objects in river beds and have fallen in a few times and had unusual ocean swells rise up and soak me from head to toe while peering into rock pools. I’ve had ravens dive bomb me while shooting plants on rocky ledges. I laugh at myself often.
16. Where can you see yourself and your photography in 10 years?
Hard to say! With my chosen area of interest, the details in nature and the patterns that underpin the creation of life, the reconnection to and reflection of the genius of nature, I feel like this will keep me inspired for my lifetime. How I develop the styles to convey this relationship is not something I can predict. Going smaller into micro is a natural progression but I haven’t made that jump yet as I sense this will keep me confined to the studio rather than out in the wild. I want to send more time sharing my interests with children and those developing a relationship to nature.