Before the Storm - Riwaka

John Gully's views of the Riwaka area on Nelson's coast capture the boundary between land and sea that is among the most dramatically photographed landscapes in the South Island. 'Before the Storm' introduces an atmospheric dimension to his documentary practice — the Riwaka in its dramatic pre-storm state, the quality of light and sky transformed by the approaching weather. Gully's ability to capture different atmospheric conditions — including the distinctive visual effects of incoming weather — extended his documentary practice from topographic record to atmospheric study.

The approaching storm creates distinctive visual conditions — the dark edge of the cloud mass, the changed quality of light beneath it, the particular way water reflects a threatening sky. Gully's watercolor technique adapts to these conditions through darker, more dramatic washes and the careful management of the contrast between the lit and storm-shadowed portions of the landscape.