Capturing Beauties Through Siobhan Costigan’s Distinctive Atmospheric Visuals

I am originally from South Africa. As a child, I always loved to draw but became frustrated that I could never fully portray what I was trying to communicate. I did a short community college darkroom course in Cape Town and I was hooked the moment I saw an image magically appearing on the photographic paper in the developer tray. I suddenly realized this was the medium that I could express myself through.

I moved to Sydney, Australia in 1997 and did a part-time course at the Sydney Institute of Technology but I left the course during the 2nd year. There was a certain formula that ensured you received high marks, which did not align with my creativity.

On moving to New Zealand in 2016, I did a six-month mentoring course which culminated in an exhibition. I found doing mentoring totally elevated my photography. It often forced me to do assignments that stretched my capabilities and offered surprisingly different perspectives.

It was a black-and-white photo of an abandoned cottage, shot from inside the cottage. The main focus was a door frame, weathered with time. There was a beautiful balance in the image. The gorgeous atmospheric lighting created beautiful shadows. The overall effect was a sense of mystery.

Up to now, I have used a Nikon D7000 which is pretty old. I have never been that concerned with equipment as I believe that it is a small part of the equation. If you don’t have a photographic eye it doesn’t matter what equipment you have, you will not become a great photographer.

Recently I updated my system to the Fujifilm X-T5 as this system is waterproof. It is a beautiful light system that I can carry with me and is suitable for taking lots of in-camera shots, which suits my photographic style of taking self-portraits. It will also enable me to take my “When It Rains” in another direction as I will be able to take photos literally in the rain as opposed to through my car windscreen.

Through my work, I strive to evoke both reflection and action. I aim to create a connection between the viewer and the subject, encouraging contemplation of our individual and collective responsibilities while using art to spark emotional resonance and inspire change.

Shibui was a minimalist series of images capturing tiny tranquil moments through the use of beautiful natural lighting. The Reviewer complimented me on the sense of visual poetry created by my choice of subject, tonality, and composition.

I love images inspired by a blend of personal experiences and universal themes. I often draw on moments of vulnerability, hope, and resilience from my own life, using these emotions to create a narrative that others can connect with. I’m also deeply inspired by symbolism, using objects, nature, and atmospheric elements—like rain or light—to add layers of meaning to my images.

Introspective, symbolic, and atmospheric.

It has been a huge honor to win the Global Photography Awards. I am immensely grateful to the organizers not only for the opportunity to enter the competition but the huge compliment you have paid me by giving me the award. The award has encouraged me to keep experimenting and pushing the boundaries in expanding this series “When it Rains” and to continue working on other ideas.

The winning work is a series of landscape photographs and self-portraits to illustrate how nature and humankind are interconnected.

I often use the imagery of shooting through the rainy glass to symbolize the current state of the environment, namely changes in weather systems and the threat of rising sea levels I tend to shoot in flat lighting and use a muted color palette which I think creates an atmosphere enhancing my concern about the effects of global warming on our planet.

Recently New Zealand was hit by Cyclone Gabrielle and I experienced first-hand the physical, social, geographical, and psychological impacts of flooding. It is my ambition to use my art as a platform to spark conversations around global warming and to make people more conscious of their choices in order to create a more sustainable future.

I am hugely encouraged to have won this award; working solo as I do can be a lonely place and to have my work noticed by others and rewarded by others has given me a new energy to continue with my themes and ideas.

It has also reconfirmed how important it is to photograph a subject that I am passionate about and to continue working on different bodies of work.

I love Todd Hido’s work, as he is a master at creating atmospheric images regardless of his subject matter. Many of Hido’s images have an element of blur. Saul Leiter inspires me too, as his earlier painting background is evident in his distinctive images filled with painterly qualities.

Do not overthink whilst photographing. Never judge your work harshly as it can totally immobilize you with fear and prevent you from taking risks and making mistakes that you learn from.

Start by finding your unique voice. In a world filled with images, it’s important to develop a perspective that reflects your own vision. Don’t be afraid to experiment—try different techniques, subjects, and styles until you discover what resonates with you.

Embrace the learning process; photography is a craft that evolves over time and constant growth comes from both practice and failure.

Build connections with other creatives, learn from them, and be open to new ideas.

The key to my success has been trusting my vision and allowing vulnerability to lead my work.

As for parting words of wisdom: "Always stay curious and true to yourself. Keep pushing boundaries, but remember that success comes from persistence and passion."

Attending exhibitions, listening to interviews, reading books on a diverse range of subjects, looking at sculptures, admiring fashions, and listening to podcasts.

I would like to thank the jury panel for the opportunity to present this interview to the Global Photography Awards.