Witnessing the Wonder of the Ancient Welsh Woodlands
In this entry to the Finding Light Journal, I reflect upon some recent experiences photographing Eryri's mystical woodlands.
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of unearthing the raw and untamed beauty of two of Eryri’s (Snowdonia’s) finest woodlands. One of the places was briefly introduced to me by fellow photographer and warden of the trees, Marc Robbins, a few years ago, when I interviewed him for my then-podcast, Finding Light. I had yet to see it in its best light and colourful spring coat, and hadn’t awakened to its marvellous mystery and possibility. On what was perhaps my fourth or fifth visit to this enchanting corner of the national park, I managed to produce a considerable collection of personally meaningful photographs.
That is often the case with new places I discover; it can take a few visits for my photographic eyes to make sense of the landscape, and for the all-important connection to form with my subjects. For the second woodland of the weekend, however, that connection was felt immediately upon encountering the trees for the first time, and I managed to create a series of photographs that will live in my portfolio for some time and form a foundation for many years’ worth of work that will follow.
Awakening the Imagination, Embracing the Unknown
I’m often told by people online and at talks and exhibitions that my woodland photographs invoke the imagination and inspire thoughts of fairies and elves. This always brings a smile to my face and gives me a sense of fulfilment that they are offering a much-needed escape from the madness of our seemingly increasingly dysfunctional — and dystopian — modern world of reality. This magnificent woodland atop a tiny hill in Snowdonia, overlooking the majestic Moelwynion mountains, is, no doubt, the kind of place in which such beings would be found if they did decide to reveal themselves in our visible world.
Although I was met by no fairies or elves during this particular outing, what did emerge from the depths of the woodland was a small herd of beautiful white horses. Interestingly, I have been drawn to embark on some meditative Shamanic drumming journeys in recent months, one of which guided me into an ancient forest where a horse revealed itself in my mind’s eye.
At the time, I didn’t think about the significance of my encounter with the horses in Snowdonia, and one in particular, who came to connect with me as I stood at the tripod with my camera. It was only when I had returned home and engaged in my usual process of reflection that I began to consider that it might not have been a coincidental encounter; maybe I was meant to discover the beauty of this place and the horses that roam these ancient lands at this point in my life.
Over the past few years, I have felt a strong affinity with the writings of the great Celtic poet, author, and mystic, John O’Donohue. He writes passionately about non-humanlike spirits and beings existing in the unseen world that is beyond the reach of our senses. To see them, or, rather, feel them, requires one to be connected to nature in a pure and innocent, childlike sense; to be open to the imagination and the wonder and the magic and the mystery that awakens when one has undertaken a certain amount of ‘letting go’ and shedding of the ego, which can exist only in a state of certainty and knowing.
The thought of existing in such a state, devoid of this magic and mystery, ‘knowing’ of the non-existence of such enchanting beings, is completely depressing to me now that I have uncovered the beauty of photography and the power of the camera to awaken to wonder and create stories for others to enjoy rather than simply documenting or ‘capturing’ a memory for myself to look back on at a later date.
In a world that so often feels so dark and hopeless, we desperately need to awaken the imagination, engage our senses of wonder, and believe that there might well be things we haven’t yet discovered; things of greater might and mystical power than we humans in our ordinary physical forms could ever hope to wield. Perhaps these things could be those that we discover in the world outside, but, as importantly, if not more, they might also be things we discover about ourselves, and our internal worlds, along the way.
Surrendering to the Process for Artistic Evolution
Earlier this week, following my communion with the trees, I was engaged in conversation with a mentoring client with whom I am working to explore her relationship to her photography and develop her creative writing around the photographic process. She was talking about some of her struggles to connect with photography in the same way that she does with her paintings. When she writes about her paintings, the words flow easily, but not so much when it comes to writing about the photographs she creates.
‘‘Maybe it’s because the photographs are already there for me, whereas I have to create the paintings from inside of myself.’’ She said. I was immediately thrust into the world of thoughts that exists inside my ever-curious, searching mind. ‘‘But what if the beauty needs us to witness it? What if, to some degree, without the human eye, none of it exists?’’ I said. The conversation led me back to a few thoughts I’ve had recently about photography as a practice of personal growth and development, rather than a quest for accolades, validation, and/or business and financial rewards.
Photography, for me, is a pursuit of growth, learning, and constant evolution. I take great satisfaction from seeing the world differently than I once did, and it fulfils me to see changes within my own creative vision. For these changes to occur, a person must open themselves to new possibilities; one must allow oneself to be moulded by the journey, rather than trying to mould the journey to one’s own will. Creativity, then, is an act of surrender to the path itself. As photographers, our creative vision evolves only if our souls allow it.
Perhaps, when the time is right, we are guided to the places we need to be for our souls’ ultimate growth and development, and our resulting evolution as artists. The photographs I created during this spontaneous visit to the ancient landscape of Eryri certainly mark an evolution in my own creative vision during a difficult period in which I had not created any truly meaningful work for some time, or experienced something so out of the ordinary that the work itself feels meaningful to me.
If we are willing to look a little deeper into our photographs, we might begin to see that they are a mirror, reflecting back to us not only where we have grown, but deeper still, where we might be blocking this growth by closing ourselves off to the magic and the mystery of the unknown and the unseen. Life itself is always unfolding; the path reveals itself before us if we are willing to step out into the unknown and embrace new opportunities and possibilities, such as packing up a bag for the weekend and venturing into a new woodland and wandering off piste in pursuit of wisdom and new discoveries.
One must go through the continuous process of opening and sometimes closing to the light of wonder and imagination, embracing the natural cycles of life, if they are to experience the growth they so desire—personally or creatively—and see the new layers of beauty that reveals itself only when a person is ready and prepared, and trusted enough to be its witness.
If you enjoyed the photographs in this essay, you can view the full collection in my recent work portfolio over on my website.
Brad Carr is an internationally published fine art landscape photographer, Nature writer, and creative mentor based in Mid Wales. His work has featured in On Landscape, Outdoor Photography, Nature Vision, and International Therapist, and exhibited in national galleries, reaching 20,000 people. He works with photographers of all abilities through private tuition, group workshops, long-term mentoring programmes and Photographing with Purpose mentoring circles.
Where to go next?
I’m here to help you on your creative journey, whether you’re just picking up a camera for the first time, looking to get out of ‘manual’ mode, or you’re preparing a portfolio for your first book project or major exhibition. See the links below and find your pathway to more meaningful landscape & nature photography:
Download FREE Educational Resources - Including an eBook on composition, an 18-page guide to light and the Five Pillars of Meaningful Landscape Photography™: A comprehensive 40-page PDF guide introducing my revolutionary philosophical framework to help you create self-expressive art instead of ‘capturing’ soulless photographs.
Photographing with Purpose Group Mentoring Circles - Develop your artistic vision, create meaningful portfolios, and unearth your creative voice through creative assignments, reflective writing, and supportive group coaching
Creative Development Portfolio Review - Book your in-depth portfolio review to gain clarity & direction and make more meaning in your photography.
1-1 Private Tuition & Mentoring - Master the fundamentals of photography or explore and develop your unique vision through private, in-field tuition. For those ready to pursue transformation through creative practice, I offer two long-term mentoring programmes. Schedule your FREE introductory call during which I’ll answer any questions you have and help you find your learning pathway.
Join a Group Photography Workshop - Learn to create beautiful photographs in a mindful, contemplative environment, surrounded by like-minded creative photographers.