With Eyes Turned Skyward

I SAW this formation (Clouds; 2010) by chance across Bay Street’s Esplanade. Majestic and heavenly are what I thought, but I also felt anticipation, like something awesome was about to happen. When I look at the picture, I can't help but think of God, to be honest.

There is a quote I read once by Joyce Meyer about happiness that I have twisted so it applies to freedom: Freedom is not about getting everything you want, but being able to be happy even when you don’t have everything.

I love aviation. Airplanes are the centre of my world, and they have inspired me to study the history and facts of aviation and to do aviation photography.

When I am flying, I feel more than free—like a massive weight is lifted and I can do anything, even though nothing physical has changed. Everything you see when you’re flying, just the entire experience of being off the ground for a bit, escaping the bonds of earth—that represents freedom for me. It’s kind of magical. Can’t put my finger on it directly, but you just feel free.

Barbados looks fantastic from above. When I look around, I see what we have. It is so much. But somehow we haven't been able to utilize it.

Leonardo da Vinci said something interesting about flight: “For once you have tasted flight, you shall walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will long to return.

But through aviation photography I have discovered I like photography in general. So now, when I go out with my camera, I’m also looking at nature close-up, trying to capture exactly what I’m seeing or what might be the unexplained; memories—as in Wooden Jetty at Consett Bay, 2014.

Terris Scott, 22, is a young Barbadian photographer and trainee pilot who started flying in 2009. He is also a Computer Science student at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill.