Teen photographer Casey Jacobs places concentrate on life in rural WA

West Australian Casey Jacobs has been captivated with capturing landscapes from across the Great Southern area ever since he picked up his mom’s digicam when he was simply 14 years outdated. 

Now, the 18-year-old from Narrogin, some 190 kilometres south-east of Perth, is on a mission to show the broader group about the fantastic thing about rural WA.

His debut exhibition, which concluded earlier this yr, featured 37 images from his hometown in addition to close by Williams, Wickepin, Brookton and additional west to coastal Dunsborough.

“I started taking everything from photos of flowers, the dog — whatever I wanted to, really, in the beginning,” Jacobs stated. 

“Now I’ve changed to take photos of more agricultural landscapes. I like to capture everything from farmers to tractors.”

Jacobs obtained an area arts grant, which allowed him to tackle a one-year mentorship with famend panorama photographer Christian Fletcher and led to his debut exhibiting at Arts Narrogin.

“Casey has a commitment beyond his years,” Fletcher stated.

“His work from compelling composition to thoughtful storytelling shows life on the land in rural Western Australia.”

Jacobs found his ardour for farming whereas attending Narrogin Agricultural College and dealing on native properties.

“I’ve worked as a chaser bin driver for a couple of harvests and during that I took photos on the drone,” he stated.

Telling tales via the lens

In addition to showcasing the fantastic thing about rural landscapes, Jacobs desires his pictures to doc agriculture for individuals who have no idea the place their meals comes from.

“I want people to have more of a connection, just to get a bit of an insight into how farms operate for people in the city,” he stated.

“I don’t think [people] quite understand when they go to Coles or Woolworths, where food is coming from, so this is a way of me getting a message out there.”

Many farmers now need Jacobs to take images of their work and properties.

He stated he was eager to tackle extra of this commissioned work to additional his mission to coach folks about life on the land.

“They want me to capture them spraying, seeding, harvest — all such important times of the year for them,” Jacobs stated.

Watching the seasons change

In addition to farming, Jacobs’s pictures doc the altering seasons throughout the Great Southern and the Wheatbelt areas.

He stated he notably favored seeing the distinction within the salt lakes.

“One moment they’re bare and dry, and then the next year they are full of water and their colours have changed drastically,” Jacobs stated. 

He stated he needed to take pictures that includes a wide range of landscapes throughout WA.

“I’d love to take photos of the Boranup Forest, and maybe even head up to Karijini National Park,” Jacobs stated.