Nature photography: the beauty of mid-winter - at Ashclyst Forest, Killerton Estate, Devon, National Trust
Hello hello.
I hope you had a lovely time over Christmas and New Years, and got to take some time out for things that most nourish your soul.
This year more than ever I’ve been leaning into an inner, rooted feeling that January 1st is simply not the right time (for me) to celebrate the start of a ‘new year’, or focus on the vigorous goal setting that our culture tends to push at this time.
Despite that, I feel a small urgency from some part of myself that believes I’ll miss out on the portal of energy and collective transformation that a new year seems to evoke - that I must capitalise on it NOW!
But as each 12 months come and go, I am trusting more and more in my own rhythms and those of nature, and doing my best to see FOMO for what it is.
While these still dark days of mid-winter hold magic and quiet for dreaming, tuning in and envisioning, I’m not forcing all the planning and action-taking right now, and am gently feeling into my evolving desires, duties, needs & intentions.
In the meantime I’m returning to my work with the first Devon mini-shoot day approaching soon (YAY!!!), and am looking forward to photo-shoots in both the South West and South East over the weeks to come.
I do have availability for sessions in the months ahead, so if you’re feeling the call to bring more of yourself to your personal branding through fresh photography, I’d be thrilled to explore that with you. Book in a call here, or find out more about working together here. You can also see past sessions here, or client testimonials here.
Now, on to the photos!
At some point over the holidays my parter Jon & I drove to Ashclyst Forest (on the Killerton Estate) for a rainy walk.
It’s only about twenty minutes in the car from Exeter, and was so enjoyable to explore in the bleak beauty of December.
I love the textures of winter.
The raindrops that cling to thistle prickles and the flopping blades of overgrown grass.
The puffballs turning to brown, crumpled paper.
The moss bursting with life and colour and water.
Hoof prints in clay-earth that tell of the secret worlds of deer.
It was so atmospheric.
I love winter for the ways it reveals the essential beauty of natures structures, allowing us to marvel at the intricate shapes of trees and the lacy skeletons of their leaves.
There is so much land to explore at Ashyclyst, I didn’t realise I’d only ever walked a very small part of it until this time when I was set on finding a longer walk - and theres still so much to get to know!
As often happens at this time of year we were caught out by the shortness of the day, returning to the car at twilight, only doing (again) a small part of the intended walk!
Here are a few of the images I captured. Thanks to my partner Jon for letting me share a few of him here too!
