It has been suggested to me that I’m prone to looking too deeply at aspects of my photography. It’s an interesting observation and, in some respects, I agree. But self-analysis and questioning my work are what drive me to search for meaning, purpose and a more informed direction.
I believe we should be strong judges of our own work and recognise the difference between a great photograph and one that fulfils our personal creative desires. That doesn’t take the enjoyment out of photography—quite the opposite. Every outing is thoroughly enjoyable, but achieving a vision that you’ve worked towards is deeply rewarding.
Creative fulfilment aside, my introspective approach has also taught me something more important: the natural world has given me immeasurable benefits. It has shaped me as a photographer, helped me earn a living and, above all, supported me as a person.
I try to make photographs that are rooted in experience and capture something of what woodland, trees and nature mean to me. That love, connection and desire to celebrate the quiet corners of my local countryside have evolved into a level of understanding and care that compels me to give something back.
I rely upon the landscape for enjoyment, restoration and my livelihood. It feels wrong simply to take from it; I want to make choices that enrich my relationship with nature and contribute something positive in return.
In September 2018, I held a raffle at a photography exhibition near Helmsley in North Yorkshire. The proceeds allowed me to establish a woodland grove with 27 trees through Trees for Life. My intention was to keep adding to it and support the charity’s long-term work to restore the wild Caledonian Forest and the extraordinary plants and animals that depend upon it.
I named the project Meg’s Grove, after my much-loved Labradoodle and constant companion.
With the help of Joe Cornish, I made a film to explore how a deeper connection with the landscape can improve and inform our photography—and why that connection should encourage us to act on nature’s behalf.
We don’t always have to express something meaningful with our work, but I do believe that my own photography benefits from an understanding of and connection with the locations I immerse myself in and the subjects I choose to capture.
The support I receive from photographers around the world has strengthened my belief that our shared appreciation of nature can become something genuinely positive. Making choices that align us more closely with nature’s needs can be very enriching, and ultimately improve and inform our photography.
Joe expressed this beautifully in the film:
“Ultimately our photography is in some way a reflection of how we see the world, the things we care about. Thinking about what we love, and why, might make the process of making images that translate our view of the world more accurate and more fulfilling. If life is in some sense a search for fulfilment then finding the meaning in what we do must be part of that. As nature photographers I believe that we have to see ourselves as a force for good. If so, then our individual actions really do count.”
Help Meg’s Grove continue to grow
Those first 27 trees have since grown into a community-supported grove of more than 2,400 trees. Each one will grow in a protected site in the Scottish Highlands, creating richer habitats for wildlife and helping these precious landscapes endure for future generations.
What began as a small gesture at an exhibition has become something far greater than I imagined. I’m immensely grateful to everyone who has helped it grow. I wanted my work to become about something bigger than an individual and his dog, and Meg’s Grove is a reminder that, together, we really can make a meaningful difference.
If you would like to help Meg’s Grove continue growing, you can add a tree or make a donation through Trees for Life.
