Light in Darkness

Light in Darkness – by Jason Batey 

“You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” - Ansel Adams 

This sums up photography and fine art printing for me – you can see my personality and life experiences in my photographs and prints. I lay myself bare for all to see, it is a deeply personal, humbling, terrifying and exhilarating undertaking. Without light there is darkness, but every now and then, if you look closely, there is Light in Darkness – hope in despair.  

A Piano of Tasmania 

I’ve been shooting Kelvin Smith who is A Piano of Tasmania, and videographer Jeremy Button, for a couple of years now. Whenever these guys get together the artistry is magical – Jeremy had the idea for me to capture behind the scenes images and I jumped at the opportunity. It’s truly a unique perspective, one that I feel fortunate to observe and document. Jeremy’s videos of Kelvin playing are stunning and can be found on A Piano of Tasmania’s Facebook page, along with my still shots. After the sudden death of my darling sister Nicole, COVID lockdown and the severe impact it had on all of us, shooting these guys was the Light in Darkness I needed. 

Aurora Australis 

Every so often the southern night sky explodes with colour as high energy particles from the Sun called Solar Wind collide with the Earth’s magnetosphere. Compressing it to a point where the upper atmosphere becomes ionised. The result is Aurora Australis or Southern Lights. Sometimes so bright you can see it with the naked eye, but captured on a camera sensor, the true extent of Lady Aurora’s power can be revealed in all her beauty and colour. She seems to come along just when I need her! The purest form of Light in Darkness. 

From Kelvin Smith – A Piano of Tasmania 

“For three years or so, the piano has been my ‘happy place’. After whatever the day has bought in these somewhat tumultuous times I sit down at my piano and disappear into the melody. But recently I’ve been treated to so much more! Suspended high above the dark waters of the Huon River with forest mist, mountains and rainbows in the background - one of Tassie’s special places really turning it on for us. And Tahune had allowed me to bring my beloved piano with me!! One moment I was in this world, the next, I was in heaven. I don’t know how Jase does it. For me, his lens captures images that are both grounded in this world and from another realm entirely. And through inspirational artistry, he’s bought these experiences into people’s homes and lives in a time of social distancing and isolation.”