The whole scene played out in the early morning mist: a small fire for warmth and the slow stirring of pilgrims as they awaited the new day.
I was in awe of their devotion, their wholehearted belief in something much greater than themselves, honoured through sacrifice, journey and ritual. I felt envious of this way of being: of the certainty and meaning held within it.
I was drawn to the quietness of the scene. Figures emerge and recede through the mist, while the fire becomes a small point of warmth and presence within the landscape.
My work is concerned with the way looking can transform an ordinary moment, how a seemingly insignificant detail can change our perception. I rarely begin with a predetermined subject. I am interested in what happens when the obvious recedes and something else comes into view.
Harriet Pratten is a photographer raised on a grazing property in New England, NSW, and a graduate of the University of Sydney. Her work explores the way we see the world. Drawn to moments where light, atmosphere, colour and space reveal unexpected relationships, she distils simplicity from complexity, inviting viewers to slow down, look again and notice what might otherwise be overlooked.
Her work is held in private collections. Selected exhibitions include AKIN at Maunsell Wickes Gallery, Sydney, 2025, and Women Deliver, Melbourne, 2026. Her work has also been featured in publications including Marie Claire.
