A journey to the Isle of Harris becomes a confrontation with the wildness we’ve suppressed—both in ourselves and in the landscape.

As storms rolled across the Atlantic, I realised I’d been avoiding the very elements that are fundamental to our complete human experience: the wind, the chaos, the untamed forces that shape both landscape and soul.

This essay explores how we've traded our reverence for nature's raw power for comfort and predictability, and asks what we lose when we refuse to face the wind that brings change.

Every landscape holds its own spirit; a frequency we can attune to when we silence the modern world’s constant demands on our attention.

This essay explores how deep presence and reverence unlock meaningful landscape photography, drawing from the prolific creative chapter when I found resonance amongst the ancient oaks and silver birch trees of Wales.

It reflects on how crossing the threshold into Nature with patience transforms not just our photographs, but ourselves, as we become fluent in the unspoken language of trees and rediscover our true spiritual nature.

What transforms photography from hobby to purpose? This essay explores the shift from self-centred creative pursuit to devoted service of something greater; the spirit of Nature and creativity itself.

Reflecting on my Finding Light exhibition and a conversation on The Photowalk podcast, I examine how true maturity comes through finding a worthy cause to serve beyond our own wants and desires.

When we dedicate ourselves to authentic expression and collective healing, service becomes the very thing that nourishes us, filling our cups whilst we give.

So often, we approach a landscape with the intention of instilling our story, our vision, our photographic style upon it. When do we ever fall into a state of surrender and ask the landscape the question: What wants to emerge?

In our creative pursuits, we must be willing to surrender our egos when we approach a conversation with the landscape. We must remain open to new possibilities because anyone who remains rigid and bound to what they already know is sure to limit themselves and stunt their own creative and spiritual growth.

When we approach with reverence and respect for the spirit beyond all form, we discover treasures that enrich our lives beyond imagination. A life worth living is one where exploration and discovery are at the centre—constantly seeking to meet new sides of ourselves through the mirror of the natural world.

Discover how surrendering what you know can unlock new creative possibilities and artistic evolution.

Most people spend their lives desperately searching for that ephemeral place of belonging. Through my journey from childhood chaos to finding peace in nature photography, I've discovered that belonging isn't found in external groups, but in the sacred moments when we connect with something greater than ourselves.

In my thirty-something years, I've felt the strongest sense of belonging after spending a morning outdoors with only my camera for company — as if a great spiritual reset button has been pressed inside my soul. Through Nature's ancient landscapes, I've found my place not by looking outward, but by looking inside my own heart with passionate intensity.

Read the full essay to discover how nature photography became my pathway home to belonging and purpose.

Mindful nature photography is more than taking pretty pictures; it's an embodied practice that reduces stress, reconnects us with wonder, and provides a platform for safe emotional expression. You don't need fancy gear to start; just presence, intention, and willingness to observe more than you photograph. This practice transforms both how we see the world and how we understand ourselves. You can learn more about it in this article.

True presence is a lost art in our scattered, device-dominated world. After surviving childhood trauma and soul fragmentation, I discovered photography and it became a pathway back to wholeness, teaching me embodied presence through Nature's mirror.

Read more to learn how this creative practice restored my sense of self-sovereignty, showing me I have the power to choose what and who I give my energy to.

During a photography walk with a wellbeing group, a lady in her sixties said she felt physically sick when I mentioned the word 'acceptance'. She was struggling to forgive and let go of old stories preventing her from writing new ones. I understood her struggle intimately. For years, I held onto resentment from childhood trauma, hiding behind masks of addiction and victimhood. But through photography and writing, I began to see purpose emerging from my pain. With each shutter click and written word, acceptance grew. My wounds, exposed to light, began to heal. I learned to thank the demons that shaped me, transforming my narrative from things happening 'to' me to happening 'for' me. Only when we find acceptance can we free ourselves from the prison of anger and fear.

Pain is the great awakener—a catalyst for change that can become our most incredible gift if we find the courage to feel it deeply. Many of us believe we're fundamentally broken, wearing masks to hide our authentic emotions after being labelled as 'crazy' in our youth. I escaped into fantasy worlds to silence my soul's cries, running from pain until it caught up with me. But contained within our pain is an abundant source of energy—a beautifully potent force that, when harnessed through creativity, becomes fuel for great purpose. True freedom comes not from avoiding pain but from acknowledging it, accepting it, and transforming it into something beautiful. Will you dare to visit the source of your pain to awaken fully to the beauty of this wild and precious life?

Creativity is a gift given to those who've had their hearts broken but choose to remain open to love, stepping beyond safety into the unknown. It flows from a force greater than our thinking minds. Only when we relinquish control and transcend the ego do we become conduits for consciousness itself. The most creative souls are often the most fragile and wounded, creating impactful art from deep grieving. Perhaps it's because we who've experienced trauma have discovered greater innocence, opening once again to allow the infinite river of creativity to heal our broken hearts. Those with secure lives develop stronger, fixed worldviews that can close them off to new possibilities. Only when we find courage to cross from the known into the unknown do we access creativity's raw, potent power.

What happens when an artist builds their entire portfolio around pain and healing, only to find that success becomes its own prison? In my latest essay, I explore the journey from introspection to purpose, questioning identity, artistic authenticity, and the courage to step into the unknown. Sometimes staring into the void is exactly where we need to be.

I thought starting a photography business would be easy—announce it online and watch workshop bookings follow. Boy, was I wrong. Between my old Ford Fiesta, frugal meals, and jobs that didn't align with who I was becoming, I learned that business is an energy exchange. The question that changed everything: what was I offering the world beyond pretty pictures?