Mike Nally

I photograph the landscape not to capture what it looks like, but to isolate what it feels like. Based in the coastal hammocks of Flagler County, Florida, I work exclusively in black and white to strip away the distraction of color, leaving only the essential elements: light, texture, and emotional weight.
My work oscillates between two distinct worlds: the sheltered intimacy of the forest floor and the expansive drama of the Florida sky. I am endlessly fascinated by the tension between the placid landscape and the volatile atmosphere above it. Whether I am documenting the intricate architecture of a sabal palm or the imposing violence of a summer storm rolling over the Intracoastal, my goal remains the same: to find the stillness within the chaos.
My process is rooted in the Zone System, a technique that allows me to orchestrate the tonal range of an image to match the mood of the moment. I treat the digital sensor with the same discipline I once applied in the wet darkroom; exposing for the shadows and developing for the emotion.
In a world that is increasingly loud, my prints are invitations to pause. They are studies in balance, designed to bring the raw, timeless spirit of the landscape into a living space.