My images are a quest for integrity of communication. People do not feature particularly often, the enduring quality of landscape or urban locations is enough.
Very often the everyday and 'mundane' are overlooked, although to me, these everyday moments are the scene of our lives, after all, our lives are lived now, in the moment, and if that is missed, so are our lives.
The state of mind of the photographer while creating is a blank. . . .
[but] It is a very active state of mind really, a very receptive state of mind,
ready at an instant to grasp an image,
yet with no image pre-formed in it at any time.
– Minor White
[but] It is a very active state of mind really, a very receptive state of mind,
ready at an instant to grasp an image,
yet with no image pre-formed in it at any time.
– Minor White
I am grounded by the coastal lands I photograph. I come from generations of fishermen and I have never lived more than a few miles from the sea, hence most of my work has some sort of nautical connection.
My first press image was published when I was 17, in the Scottish Fishing News and after working as a darkroom printer for newspapers, I studied press photography at Stradbroke College, Sheffield, (1997 NCE), and went on to work for regional and national newspapers as well as international agencies.
Now nearly 40 years later, and no longer involved in newspaper work, I have returned to Argyll in West Scotland to further explore the landscape of my heritage, and the effects of humanities activities upon it. Increasingly, the effects of our traditional West Coast industries of fishing , farming and forestry are becoming more contentious, this area constitutes a large part of my ongoing work.
Most of my work is made using an ancient film Rollieflex T, film Leica's, and a variety of battered old Nikons and various other ancient digital cameras, which I prefer due to the more primitive, raw quality of their sensors.
Artist Statement>
John MacBrayne is a documentary photographer based in Argyll, Scotland. His work predominantly explores the flux and change of both urban and natural landscapes. Through his use of black and white imagery, MacBrayne captures the timeless essence of these environments. With a background in photojournalism, his photographs have been featured in the national press, focusing on issues of conflict and belonging. Through his lens, MacBrayne presents a thought-provoking reflection on the relationship between society and its surroundings and the industries that shape rural lands. He seamlessly weaves a narrative that speaks of the ebb and flow of life, highlighting the complexities of our ever-evolving world. With a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the power of photography, MacBrayne's work resonates with a raw and unyielding truth.
In this constant journey through visual narratives, John MacBrayne invites the viewer to pause and reflect—to see beyond the immediate, to grasp the subtle yet overwhelming forces of change, decay, and renewal that shape our worlds, internal and external. Through his lens, the viewer is compelled to confront the complexities of identity, the pain of displacement, and the profound bonds that tether us, despite the inexorable march of time.
John MacBrayne's photography is an enduring exploration of the human condition, a poetic testament to the enduring question of what it means to truly belong—somewhere, anywhere, or nowhere at all.
