Portrait of Nature

Matthieu Cotteret’s approach to large format photography and traditional darkroom printing is deeply meditative, with the slow, deliberate process offering ample time for contemplation. These moments of waiting—whether for light to shift or for an emulsion to dry—became integral to the creation of Portrait of Nature. Over time, Cotteret began to perceive the forest as more than a backdrop. He approached it as he would a portrait of a person, recognising the forest as a living entity with its own distinct identity and history.

Time is a central theme in Portrait of Nature. Cotteret views photography as a medium that preserves moments, memories, and the past. Through his lens, nature becomes a living archive, a glimpse into ancient time. He imagines our ancestors witnessing these same landscapes, with the forest standing as a silent witness to the passage of time and the evolution of the Earth. Paleobotanists trace the roots of the world’s oldest forests back 385 million years, while humanity’s presence represents a mere blink in this vast timeline, underscoring our fleeting role in nature’s grand cycle.

Cotteret is struck by the contrast between how society carefully preserves human-made monuments that are just centuries old, yet so quickly destroys natural landscapes that have existed for millennia. In New Zealand, where forests once covered 80% of the land, this urgency for conservation becomes even more apparent.

The photographs in Portrait of Nature capture moments of forest life, with exposures ranging from 8 to 32 seconds. Each image is handprinted on eco-friendly bamboo Washi paper using a fully handmade process. Cotteret brushes light-sensitive chemicals onto the paper, places the negative on top, and exposes it to UV light via contact printing. This meticulous method ensures that every print is unique. The cyanotype blue tones, soft contrasts, and rounded corners give the forest a dreamlike quality, evoking a sense of calm and stillness.

In the smaller works, this dreamlike atmosphere creates an intimate connection, drawing viewers closer to discover the finer details hidden within the images. The larger prints extend this experience, offering an immersive encounter with the serene beauty of the forest.