‘David Tatnall’s photographs record exactly what is there. No drama, no contrived perfection, but a resonant perfection nonetheless.

Frustratingly, he does this through viewfinders that present the image the wrong way around. It is as if he either has an uncanny ability to view the picture upside down and inside out, yet in his mind’s eye see it the right way around or, more intriguingly, he uses this impediment to great advantage, composing a most natural and realistic image as if it is an abstract.

I don’t know if I have ever asked David how he does this, or if I ever want to. I expect, and prefer to believe, that he is not sure what he does anyway.

The result is quite fine. Almost alone amongst artists and quite rare amongst modern photographers, he takes us to the natural world without artifice, without emphasis, without decoration, without altering a thing. And he opens our eyes and our hearts to something enduring, something very great.’

From essay Upside down and inside out, by Philip Ingamells environmental educator and activist.

North West Point, Erith Island, Kent Group National Park
800 x 1000 mm Chromogenic print.