IN THIS SERENE BODY OF WORK, PHOTOGRAPHER VICTORIA MAIDSTONE SHARES WITH US HER EXPERIENCE EXPLORING THE RIVER SEVERN, IN THE CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS OF WALES.

Vicky is a recent graduate from Bath Spa University, who’s photographic practice stems from her personal connection and experiences with nature. With a focus on landscape and portrait photography, she explores different mythologies and environmental issues within geographical environments. We take a look at her series ‘Then it was Dew’, where she explores a human connection to water. Choosing the Welsh landscape as her canvas, Vicky travelled to Plynlimon, home of the highest point of mid-Wales, in the Cambrian Mountains following parts of the River Severn.

Inspired by Alice Oswald’s poem ‘Dart’, these mediative photographic experiments describe and reflect upon the rivers flow through time and space. To fully understand and connect with this body of water she decided to travel to photograph both the source of the river and its mouth, feeling the need to depict the journey each particle would endure from beginning to end.

‘I was amazed by the peace and serenity that filled the autumn air. All that could be heard was a trickle of water passing underfoot, intertwined with the swaying of the grass.’

The project was shot on medium format film. A beautiful unseen connection lies within Vicky’s process. At each location samples of water from the river were taken and later combined in the darkroom amongst the chemical solutions to develop the negatives, producing a transient connection between the two traces of physicality. Using a combination of both colour and black and white she wanted to capture both the calm as well as the darkness brought over by the senses. She explains, ‘For me, water can have a meditative effect but equally form a fearful experience. Fully immersing myself in the landscapes, I would go at multiple times throughout the day, morning and night, sensing the change in the environments.’