I feel incredibly fortunate to live overlooking a river. Throughout the years it has seeped into and embedded itself in my consciousness – now so prominent in my life that it feels like a part of me. It’s one of the first things I see in the morning and one of the last things I see at night.
Arriving home, I instinctively inspect its features, my eyes wandering slowly over the water, the bank and the trees, studying to see what’s changed, as if somehow I’ve unwittingly become one of its protectors. Later I’ll find myself distracted as flashes of light grab and then hold my attention. I’ll stare hypnotically – mesmerised at the shifting patterns, shapes and colours dancing on the top of the water.
I’ll never tire of seeing the incredible, unique wildlife: the almost daily sight of the heron standing statue-like while it stalks its prey; the perfect white egrets; tiny, vulnerable ducklings in summer. The thrill of spotting a kingfisher’s breathtakingly blue drop below the surface. And of course those rare but exhilarating moments when I catch a glimpse of otter pups playing.
In the warmer months, I’ll regularly tread one of two circular walks beside it, noticing many of its gradual changes as the seasons pass. And some winters, after yet another night of rain, I’ll anxiously open the blinds, eager but nervous to see how much deeper it has become while I slept.
With its steady but determined urge to forge forever onwards, it is a source of endless fascination. Inspired by its tremendous beauty, this short series of images is my visual ode to a river and its reflections.
The images from David’s Notes From The Riverbank series are shown below (click to view image at full size / format).
ABOUT DAVID THACKWELL
David Thackwell is a photographic artist based in rural Somerset. His work, made using a variety of alternative techniques, explores themes of place, perception and time. In recent years, he has had work selected for a number of art and photographic exhibitions including the 2017 and 2018 Black Swan Arts Open.
Website: dthackwell.com
Twitter: @davethackwell
CREDITS
Unless otherwise stated, all words and images in this article are © David Thackwell
