Photographer, Scott Geib, who lives on Hatteras Island, North Carolina, revels in the synchronicity of timing, light and composition.
Scott works spontaneously with the elements at hand. A stormy day will act as a magnet and draw him to the beach where the windblown clouds will echo the curve of the surf. The casual observer may not see what Scott does, but it is readily apparent in his finished work. He makes beauty in the drama and balance of nature visible, but rarely waits for a shot. He has sometimes visualized beforehand just what he was hoping to see, but more often it’s a matter of anticipation and intuition. Spending a lot of time in the natural world is key.
Scott draws his inspiration from extremes in nature: the absolute silence of Death Valley, the Smokey Mountains where he tries to anticipate the actions of the wild creatures who live there or the myriad of wildlife in the ever changing coastal environment. His home, an island 30 miles off the coast of mainland North Carolina, is rich with inspiration and extremes: the clear light of a Nor’easter one day, the piles of clouds over the Gulf Stream the next. And in the depths of summer when the hurricanes form, Scott is out there to capture the beautiful ferocity when the storms come crashing ashore.
Scott’s talent has developed by doing what he loves most, learning to see. He bought his first camera in 1996 at age 38. Without any formal training, he says he’s never learned the rules and doesn’t care about the technological aspects of the art form. This minimalist approach frees him to experiment and not be encumbered with the intellectual problem of doing it wrong. He pays attention and uses all his senses. When framing a composition he tries to hear the light the same way a musician sees the music he writes. He listens for the balance of sound in the reflective values of what he sees. The finished piece is a multi-layered dimensional composition that resonates with viewer’s emotions.
Scott is an award-winning artist but the prizes are to him merely an acknowledgement that someone else appreciates his vision. He hopes for this and likes it when his pictures tell their stories to others. Driven by the need to create and earn his living through his creativity, he is always seeking new mediums of expression.
While this Outer Banks artist continues to travel and aspires to photograph much of the United States, he keeps returning to Hatteras, North Carolina where he finds constant inspiration.
Gee Gee Rosell
All images © Scott Geib
P.O. Box 1239 • Buxton, NC 27920 • 252-996-0286
P.O. Box 1239 • Buxton, NC 27920 • 252-996-0286