Gill, I found this piece very inspiring and must re-read over another cup of coffee! There is something about Scotland that stops you in your tracks, maybe the understated, awesome beauty. I don’t know. But it draws you in, even on a wild day. …..
Beautiful work Gill - I love the idea to explicitly bring out the muted palette of colours in your images. Looking forward to seeing more around Connections and your amazing UK landscapes.
I used Indesign to create the squares but you could do it in Photoshop by placing your image on a white background, drawing the squares where you want them and using the colour picker tool to sample a colour from your photograph to fill the square.
We spent an enjoyable workshop with Niall Benvie in Iceland seven years ago ago and were inspired by his inspiration and his leadership together with Charlotte his wife . Using similar equipment also helped of course
Thanks for this Gill. Reading it this morning was very encouraging, especially since I have hardly taken a photograph at all over the last three weeks. For me the weather has been partly to blame, so how you've managed to come back with anything from Assynt in such benign conditions is impressive.
By the way, there is an instagram account that does something similar with colours, https://www.instagram.com/colours_scotland/ Sometimes their posts feel a bit contrived but do I like the low key way you have presented it.
The zine looks excellent too. I'm currently less fixated with finding my next show stopping image and am currently more interested in finding different ways to share my work, whether exhibitions, publications, zines or something else. Collaboration is welcome too as we definitely think about our art more when surrounded by others who also are looking at the same themes, and sometimes the same subjects. But when I have a series of images that just don't fit into anything else I do, they would probably stand alone as a one-off project in something like a zine and I'm seriously thinking about it.
Thanks you very much for your comments Grant and your kind words. I have to admit the weather we had in Assynt wasn't what I had hoped for but it was a good challenge and showed me the value to going out whatever the conditions.
Thank you too for the instagram link, I will take a look.
I love the idea of getting my work out there in printed form. I think that is how photography should be seen and zines are a great way of doing that. I hope you will feel inspired to create some yourself. 🙂
Congratulations on producing the zine Gill, it looks quite beautiful – great title and the colour swatches work so well!
I do feel that we can gain connection to nature through photography, whether that is viewing other people’s photographs or physically going out into it ourselves on workshops or taking photowalks. Workshops give you the opportunity to help people see and really connect, whilst on the other hand, your images in themselves have that sense of place about them that helps viewers to connect to the nature within them.
I'm sure I read a while ago that there is research that proves we connect to nature, our stress diminishes and our mood improves as does our feeling of wellbeing when we simply view images of nature. Also, the idea of collaborative projects sounds to me like a good way to work with others and would encourage each other to see and connect more. It will be interesting to see where this leads for you. 😊
Thank you so much for your comments Lin. I think you have made some really good points about nature connection. It is something I would like to make more of in my workshops and in my work in general but I am not sure how to do that yet. It is good to have your input, thank you. 🙂
Is it possible to use photography to foster a deeper connection to nature? I do hope so – it’s been the main driving force behind my whole career in wildlife media! I suspect the strongest connection is forged for the person behind the camera (hence, my interest in phone nature photography, for the huge inclusivity it offers, despite its challenges), but I think the skilful photographer can impart so much to their audience, too, especially when portraying subjects people might never see for themselves. I think your zine looks wonderful; my favourite is option 1 – such beautiful, delicate colours.
It was interesting to read your thoughts on nature connection and I think you are right in that the strongest connection is with the person behind the camera. It is something I would like to explore more in my workshops, I just need to work out how to do that. 🙂
First of all, this is so inspiring! And the images are incredibly beautiful and breathtaking.
Regarding your question “Do you think it is possible to use photography to foster a deeper connection to nature?”, I would say yes, absolutely. I think sharing art always creates connection. Your work definitely helps people to connect to nature, but even more so a workshop would certainly provide that.
I think it is such an important topic and to conduct a workshop around it would create a deeper connection among the people and a deeper connection to nature. I think it is a beautiful idea!
Thank you so much Manuela, I am glad you enjoyed the images. Thank you too for your comments on nature connection, it was good to read your thoughts. 🙂
That zine looks excellent! I've been trying to create one of my own from my series about thru hiking the Foothills Trail last year. So far it's looking a bit bland, so its a work-in-progress I guess.
I sure hope photography can foster deep connection with nature. That is the entire underlying goal of my photography. Not just to inspire people or to show them cool places to go, but to hopefully deliver a sense of the awe and wonder at the magic that the natural world has to offer. If I can do that, then just maybe it will spark that drive to want to conserve what is left of it.
I believe your photography delivers this, Gill! And, while I'm not really interested in giving workshops or doing collaborations, I think this would be a powerful way for you to impart this feeling of connection to nature with others.
Thank you so much Erik. I really enjoy turning my images into printed bodies of work. I think that is how photography should be viewed and I love the challenge. I think your images from your thru hiking adventures would make a great publication and I am sure you will find a good way of putting it all together.
Thank you too for the comments on connection. Your reasons for making images are much the same as mine and I really hope that by sharing our work we will all inspire others to help protect what is left of our fragile natural world.
Yes! I believe it is self evident that photography can foster a deeper connection with nature. On connection, I finished listening to an interview with landscape writer Robert McFarlane. Mesmerizing conversation about our connection to rivers. The moment I closed it, a mention of your post appeared on my screen. A coincidence of connections. This is the link: https://emergencemagazine.org/
Gill, I found this piece very inspiring and must re-read over another cup of coffee! There is something about Scotland that stops you in your tracks, maybe the understated, awesome beauty. I don’t know. But it draws you in, even on a wild day. …..
Thank you very much for your comments Kay. I am glad you enjoyed the post and I agree about Scotland, I always find it really inspiring.
Your eye for a colour palette is very much in evidence with the images used in this blog. As Kay says, well worth reading again.
Thank you very much Richard, I am glad you enjoyed it.
Beautiful work Gill - I love the idea to explicitly bring out the muted palette of colours in your images. Looking forward to seeing more around Connections and your amazing UK landscapes.
Thank you very much James, I am glad you enjoyed the images.
How did you do the little colour swatches on the left under the photos? Very interesting idea.
I used Indesign to create the squares but you could do it in Photoshop by placing your image on a white background, drawing the squares where you want them and using the colour picker tool to sample a colour from your photograph to fill the square.
I hope that helps.
Really interesting idea and beautifully executed.
Thank you so much Pat. I hope you enjoy it.
Congratulations on your project's completion. These images are simply stunning!!
Thank you so much Juliette.
We spent an enjoyable workshop with Niall Benvie in Iceland seven years ago ago and were inspired by his inspiration and his leadership together with Charlotte his wife . Using similar equipment also helped of course
Thanks for this Gill. Reading it this morning was very encouraging, especially since I have hardly taken a photograph at all over the last three weeks. For me the weather has been partly to blame, so how you've managed to come back with anything from Assynt in such benign conditions is impressive.
By the way, there is an instagram account that does something similar with colours, https://www.instagram.com/colours_scotland/ Sometimes their posts feel a bit contrived but do I like the low key way you have presented it.
The zine looks excellent too. I'm currently less fixated with finding my next show stopping image and am currently more interested in finding different ways to share my work, whether exhibitions, publications, zines or something else. Collaboration is welcome too as we definitely think about our art more when surrounded by others who also are looking at the same themes, and sometimes the same subjects. But when I have a series of images that just don't fit into anything else I do, they would probably stand alone as a one-off project in something like a zine and I'm seriously thinking about it.
Thanks you very much for your comments Grant and your kind words. I have to admit the weather we had in Assynt wasn't what I had hoped for but it was a good challenge and showed me the value to going out whatever the conditions.
Thank you too for the instagram link, I will take a look.
I love the idea of getting my work out there in printed form. I think that is how photography should be seen and zines are a great way of doing that. I hope you will feel inspired to create some yourself. 🙂
Congratulations on producing the zine Gill, it looks quite beautiful – great title and the colour swatches work so well!
I do feel that we can gain connection to nature through photography, whether that is viewing other people’s photographs or physically going out into it ourselves on workshops or taking photowalks. Workshops give you the opportunity to help people see and really connect, whilst on the other hand, your images in themselves have that sense of place about them that helps viewers to connect to the nature within them.
I'm sure I read a while ago that there is research that proves we connect to nature, our stress diminishes and our mood improves as does our feeling of wellbeing when we simply view images of nature. Also, the idea of collaborative projects sounds to me like a good way to work with others and would encourage each other to see and connect more. It will be interesting to see where this leads for you. 😊
Thank you so much for your comments Lin. I think you have made some really good points about nature connection. It is something I would like to make more of in my workshops and in my work in general but I am not sure how to do that yet. It is good to have your input, thank you. 🙂
This looks wonderful, Gill!
And yes, I believe that photography helps me connect to nature on a deeper level, absolutely!
Thank you so much Susanne, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Is it possible to use photography to foster a deeper connection to nature? I do hope so – it’s been the main driving force behind my whole career in wildlife media! I suspect the strongest connection is forged for the person behind the camera (hence, my interest in phone nature photography, for the huge inclusivity it offers, despite its challenges), but I think the skilful photographer can impart so much to their audience, too, especially when portraying subjects people might never see for themselves. I think your zine looks wonderful; my favourite is option 1 – such beautiful, delicate colours.
Thank you so much for your comments Jane.
It was interesting to read your thoughts on nature connection and I think you are right in that the strongest connection is with the person behind the camera. It is something I would like to explore more in my workshops, I just need to work out how to do that. 🙂
First of all, this is so inspiring! And the images are incredibly beautiful and breathtaking.
Regarding your question “Do you think it is possible to use photography to foster a deeper connection to nature?”, I would say yes, absolutely. I think sharing art always creates connection. Your work definitely helps people to connect to nature, but even more so a workshop would certainly provide that.
I think it is such an important topic and to conduct a workshop around it would create a deeper connection among the people and a deeper connection to nature. I think it is a beautiful idea!
Thank you so much Manuela, I am glad you enjoyed the images. Thank you too for your comments on nature connection, it was good to read your thoughts. 🙂
It should go hand in hand naturally.
Congrats on the zine, Gill. The concept is pretty cool and original!
I do believe photography can help
us connect with nature not just on an artistic manner but on deeper, spiritual levels as well.
I hope you find ways to make your ideas become a reality. All the best!
Thank you so much for your kind comments Xavi and it was good to hear your thoughts on nature connection too. 🙂
That zine looks excellent! I've been trying to create one of my own from my series about thru hiking the Foothills Trail last year. So far it's looking a bit bland, so its a work-in-progress I guess.
I sure hope photography can foster deep connection with nature. That is the entire underlying goal of my photography. Not just to inspire people or to show them cool places to go, but to hopefully deliver a sense of the awe and wonder at the magic that the natural world has to offer. If I can do that, then just maybe it will spark that drive to want to conserve what is left of it.
I believe your photography delivers this, Gill! And, while I'm not really interested in giving workshops or doing collaborations, I think this would be a powerful way for you to impart this feeling of connection to nature with others.
Thank you so much Erik. I really enjoy turning my images into printed bodies of work. I think that is how photography should be viewed and I love the challenge. I think your images from your thru hiking adventures would make a great publication and I am sure you will find a good way of putting it all together.
Thank you too for the comments on connection. Your reasons for making images are much the same as mine and I really hope that by sharing our work we will all inspire others to help protect what is left of our fragile natural world.
Yes! I believe it is self evident that photography can foster a deeper connection with nature. On connection, I finished listening to an interview with landscape writer Robert McFarlane. Mesmerizing conversation about our connection to rivers. The moment I closed it, a mention of your post appeared on my screen. A coincidence of connections. This is the link: https://emergencemagazine.org/
Thank you so much Anna for your comments and for the link - I shall enjoy listening to the interview.