Into the Night: Capturing the Glow of Motion with Casey Bryant Jones

The Quiet Chaos of Night on the Water

There’s something otherworldly about water under moonlight—the way ripples catch a glimmer of light, the pulse of motion against stillness, the symphony of sound and silence. Photographer and filmmaker Casey Bryant Jones sought to capture that elusive space between darkness and illumination in his short film Nocturne.

Shot entirely at night on the Ottawa River in Canada, Nocturne follows kayaker Heidi Walsh through a world transformed by LED light. Each paddle stroke glows, each ripple burns briefly into view before fading into blackness. It’s not just a portrait of an athlete—it’s a meditation on balance, beauty, and the intimacy between human and water.

“Nocturne is a study in contrast, darkness, and illumination,” says Casey. “Every stroke becomes poetry in motion.”

The film’s aesthetic—half science fiction, half dream—feels alive, as if nature itself were performing. But capturing that required more than inspiration. It demanded technical mastery, patience, and gear that could perform in complete darkness and unpredictable conditions.

From Filmmaker to Explorer

Casey Bryant Jones is no stranger to extremes. Based in Canada, he’s carved out a niche at the intersection of adventure, art, and environmental storytelling. His films and photographs explore the human relationship with natural forces—often from within those forces themselves.

Whether it’s snow swirling across a frozen ridge or whitewater boiling beneath aurora-lit skies, Casey’s imagery blends precision with feeling. His work is deeply cinematic, yet grounded in authenticity—a reflection of years spent both behind the camera and in the elements.

With Nocturne, Casey took his creative curiosity one step further:

“I wanted to explore what happens when we remove the sun from the equation—when light becomes a controlled element, not a given.”

That decision brought logistical and creative challenges few photographers would dare: working in near-zero visibility, capturing movement on water, and maintaining both safety and control while shooting through LED light sources.

The Right Gear for the Right Vision

Creating Nocturne wasn’t just about light—it was about trusting gear in total darkness. When you’re waist-deep in cold river water, balancing camera exposure with safety lines, and timing LED strokes against moving currents, there’s no room for hesitation. Everything must work seamlessly—every button, every seal, every focus ring.

For Casey Bryant Jones, gear reliability isn’t about brand loyalty; it’s about creative freedom. Shooting the night-lit sequences of Nocturne meant constantly shifting from dry to wet environments, often without the luxury of resetting or switching setups. That’s where his Outex underwater housing system came into play.

The Outex housing allowed him to submerge partially or fully in the Ottawa River, capturing reflections, ripples, and light trails from angles that would otherwise risk his camera. The system’s optical glass dome preserved perfect image quality—no distortion, fog, or loss of sharpness—while still letting him make quick adjustments through tactile control.

“Outex gives me the flexibility to work anywhere—on land, waist-deep, or underwater—without breaking creative flow,” Casey shared. “I can compose freely, focus confidently, and keep shooting no matter what the environment throws at me.”

For photographers and filmmakers who work outdoors—especially near or on the water—this kind of versatility is invaluable. Outex housings are:

• Lightweight and travel-friendly, ideal for remote or multi-location shoots.

• Compatible with multiple camera bodies and lenses, allowing easy transitions on the go.

• Durable and adaptable, performing flawlessly from freezing rivers to tropical surf.

• Optically precise, protecting quality while expanding creative range.

It’s not about shooting underwater photography per se—it’s about expanding your creative comfort zone. Whether you’re capturing athletes, landscapes, or fine-art reflections, Outex empowers creators to take their vision into places most cameras can’t safely go.

For Nocturne, that meant Casey could merge cinematic storytelling with natural unpredictability, turning river spray and LED glow into visual poetry.

Photography in Motion: The Art of Outdoor Storytelling

Outdoor photography demands more than technical skill—it’s about reading the rhythm of nature and adapting to what it offers. Casey’s approach mirrors that philosophy: part observation, part participation.

He doesn’t chase the perfect shot; he immerses himself until it reveals itself. That mindset resonates deeply with Outex’s community of creators—people who value adaptability, curiosity, and respect for the elements.

Through Nocturne, Casey invites viewers into a world where boundaries dissolve—between light and dark, between human and nature, between control and surrender. His imagery reminds us that beauty lives in the in-between—in the ripples, glows, and fleeting moments we almost miss.

Watch Nocturne

🎥 Experience the full short film and behind-the-scenes footage: Watch Nocturne on FilmFreeway
📸 Learn more about Casey’s work: Paddling Magazine Feature

Explore More with Outex

Discover how creators like Casey are redefining visual storytelling in the elements. Explore the Outex waterproof housing system trusted by adventurers, photographers, and filmmakers worldwide.
🔗 Learn More at Outex.com