Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer pops in to visit Jason from JNPhotos at The Imaginarium. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
Shellharbour Village photographer Jason from JNPhotos is transforming The Imaginarium into a window to unseen worlds this month, revealing the intricate beauty of nature through his macro lens in his debut solo exhibition Art in Nature.
Part of Shellharbour City Council’s August Incubator Artist Residency program, The Imaginarium in Shellharbour Village will become a working gallery and creative studio for Jason throughout August, as he invites visitors to slow down and see the world through a different lens.
Specialising in intricate natural details often invisible to the naked eye, Jason’s photography journey has evolved from initially taking traditional coastal landscape photos.
“I started off like a lot of people who live on the coast with ocean shots and sunsets,” he said.
“Probably the biggest turning point for the style I’m doing now was buying a macro lens, because I suddenly got really into taking a picture of a plant, and then being able to see things you can’t with the naked eye.”
He said he began capturing the fleeting moments of beauty in the natural world, such as the curves of a shell, the texture of bark, or the light glinting off a leaf.
“There’s these tiny, miniature worlds going on,” he said.
“I realised that nature itself is already an art form on display, and so I got inspired by that.”
Jason said the opportunity to work from The Imaginarium was a significant moment in his creative journey, with Art In Nature marking his first solo exhibition.
“Through my Art in Nature series, I want people to rediscover the wonder that surrounds us,” he said.
“To feel the peace, joy, and reverence our environment inspires.
“Having this space at The Imaginarium is a very big deal for me as an emerging artist.”
One of Jason’s macro photos. Photo: Jason JNPhotos.
As part of his residency, Jason will host free workshops and artist talks, sharing insights into photographic techniques and his creative process.
He’ll demonstrate how he transforms natural images using various filters and techniques, creating works that blur the lines between photography and painting.
“One of my enjoyments is looking at documentaries from past masters of photography and reading a lot of books,” he said.
“So I thought I would do something around that as a presentation, but also make it so people can contribute as well.
“That’s the first talk and half the tickets have gone already.
“The other one is going to be looking back on this experience in here and what I’ve learnt on the journey.”
Jason, who is a member of the Kiama Shellharbour Photography Club, has been seriously pursuing photography for the past three years.
“I’ve been getting more serious by getting SLRs over the last 10 years, but it was on full auto for five or six of those,” he said, laughing.
He said the photography club had helped hone his skills by providing feedback on his contributions to its monthly photographic competitions.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said council was proud to continue supporting talent through the Incubator Artist program.
“It’s fantastic to see another creative local using the space to share their work and engage with the community,” Cr Homer said.
“The Imaginarium is a place to spark creativity, and this is a great opportunity for people to experience the artistic process up close.”
Visitors can explore Jason’s exhibition and watch him work at The Imaginarium in Shellharbour Village throughout August.
Registration is also open for the free Art in Nature: Experimenting with Studio Flash Photography workshop on 23 August at 2 pm or 30 August at 2 pm, or What Makes a Good Photo? talk on 16 August at 2 pm or The Photographer Journey and The Imaginarium Residency Insights talk on 24 August at 2 pm. These interactive sessions are open to all ages and experience levels.
Learn more about Jason’s photography on his website.
