Escaping from the city to the mountains or forests has become my routine for some time now. I often talk about it. I know how much it can change your perspective, clear your head, and shift your thinking to new, fresh paths. Communion with nature is irreplaceable. It provides a different level of existence that cannot be described; it must be experienced.

#1 © Artur Sikora

Backstage

My favourite places for walks, which I have been visiting for a few years now, are Massey Forest and the surrounding area. It is a magical space that reveals something new every time. The less I stick to the designated paths, the more interesting nooks and crannies open up before me.

This year, during the first autumn rays of sunlight, something enchanted me and I decided to use the camera from now on. It’s my form of meditation/forest bathing, so I wanted to make the whole process exceptional. I decided to focus on photographing nature not through pure visual reception but rather through emotions. Each image I created is a moment of some ecstasy. Another important aspect was the selection of equipment and materials to emphasize the message.

Large format camera and Ilford Direct Positive Paper - great photographic material, on the one hand, a bit unpredictable but at the same time possible to tame with a bit of concentration. In addition, I wanted each shot to be one of a kind and unique.

#3 © Artur Sikora

Pure emotions, a moment in time, a transformation into the image. Something that cannot be repeated and copied in a pure form.

The first photographs were created at the end of August. At that time, I wasn’t sure what the whole thing would look like. In mid-September, I returned to the subject and… I couldn’t stop for the next few weeks.

Everything was intensified by the beautiful autumn light…

Technicalities

Throughout the entire project, I used the wonderful Intrepid 4x5 mk4 camera that I purchased in 2020. Since then I couldn’t be happier with it. It is incredibly portable due to its lightweight and small size. The Fresnel glass screen (added at some stage) was very helpful in many situations. I only used a 180mm lens (Fujinon) here.

Each image was created on the mentioned Ilford Direct Positive Paper exposed at ISO 3. It is a wonderful material that allowed me to perfectly convey my vision. I prefer high contrast, so pre-flashing was out of the question. This is the aesthetic that suits me best.

The paper was then developed as usual and scanned using an Epson V850 Pro and SilverFast Studio AI software.

Summa summarum

It’s an ongoing project, even though I’ve considered closing it many times. I still don’t think I have enough photographs to convey its essence.

Or maybe I do…

Let’s see. Patience is a virtue.

For now, I will continue to immerse myself in the sounds of rustling trees and leaves… as long as the weather permits.

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Before the leaves fall