Foreword

Ever since photography revolutionized the human way of documentation, people have kept on pushing the limits of photography and art. The reflection of what we see through the lens gives us new ideas of reality and realities.

The camera obscura gave the creative individual new horizons and those boundaries have kept being travelled beyond, it revolutionized the way of depicting things with accuracy, something the art of photography carried on in its early days.

But the images we seek, those of accuracy and preciseness, might not always be the fulfilling pieces of the rhythm that John Fan so eloquently reveals in nature.

During the 19th century, in close relationship with the romantic ideas of human beings, nature became ever so important. Not only was nature an allegory for the somewhat complex inner landscape of the human self, it was also a perfect place to catch an essence of authenticity. During the 19th century the increasing industrialism and urbanism called for a counter reaction in the shape of nature romantics. Perhaps the impending climate crisis has called for a new generation of artists attempting to unveil the beauty and essence of nature? Nature photography in its prime form, like depicted through the lens of Fan, serves as a reminder of the incredible wonders of our planet that still remain.

Photography has taken leaps from the first invention of the camera obscura. Today the industry is a constantly blooming garden, where the audience can reap a wide range of images and motifs. The increasing popularity has presented photography with new challenges where it has proven to be a most appreciated art form. It is accessible and easy to spread, which makes it an art form many people can take part of and enjoy. Photography gives the individual the power of personal expression while at the same time being part of a greater artistic collective. From the walls of fine art galleries to the walls of the everyday person, photos are surrounding us and we communicate with them every day.

Making a photo is not just the mere mechanics of pressing a button. It is a fine tuned symphony where more than one section is of importance. It is the whole that makes out the modus operandi.

Besides the technique and conditions, the vision of the photographer is crucial to the result. Perhaps even the most important factor in what an image communicates.

When asked in an interview on the curated gallery 1x.com what his photographic vision is Fan replied: “My goal is to use my work to convey the inspiration from nature and the wisdom of life. Even when I photograph a seemingly static scene, I tempt to seek rhythm and meaning from the nature around me, while incorporating my imagination in every image I make.”

The quote above is the foremost proof that Fan's modus operandi is in tune with his vision and this is what makes his images extraordinary. From his other work at 1x.com one can clearly see the significance of a photographer with both the highest skill and vision.

One of the earlier images from Fan is called ”Rhythm of the Forest” and in it's dense impressionistic style the very rhythm of the tree trunks are presented as if secretly arranged to fit a perfect print. The very name of the image reveals an incorporation between the modus operandi and the vision.

In his image ”The Sky is My Blanket” the vast space above the somewhat tiny tent gives the impression of the greatness of nature and the world we dwell in. The light in the sky and the light in the tent also poses questions of near and far, of globalization and connection. It might also be an image over the fragility of life itself, that sometimes only a small shield is what keeps us safe, like the atmosphere, the notion of a home and social security. It can also be a figment of the notion of the world itself, of the greatness we face beyond our own world and how we can choose to discover it, if we only dare to peek outside the safety of the tent.

Only the individual can decide what impact images hold. But sometimes they affect us without warning, some images give us affections beyond our understanding, perhaps even beyond words？

The very title of this work ”Spirit of Rationality - Voices from Nature” suggests a communication between nature and the photographer, that there is an order, a rhythm and a language to understand if one only looks close enough. The title also bounces back onto the romantic idea of nature and city, masculine and feminine, sense and sensibility. However it creates a dichotomy where rationality - the masculine element - is connected to the language of nature - the feminine element. One can simply say that the title creates a whole, perhaps the notion of the whole that the photographer must always consider？

Because maybe it is not about the feminine and the masculine, about a form of balance - but to broaden ones horizon in order to see the “whole picture” whatever language it communicates.

So what do we photograph? Is something we'd like to depict just the way it is in this moment? Or it is a moment that reminds us of the constant flow of time that can be paused in an image? Is the image an imprint of the world as we see it? Or as we wish to see it？

By deciphering the world and the language which is being constantly communicated to us, we might come a little bit closer to understanding ourselves. And perhaps that is what photography is a vital part of? The understanding of ourselves in a world full of different languages.

Perhaps, ”Spirit of Rationality - Voices from Nature” can be a perfect guide, not only within the complex field of photography, but in a broader sense of the modus operandi. Perhaps working as a key to the reader, when attempting to decipher the world of photography.

Ralf Stelander

Founder and CEO of 1x.com