A self-guided journey into presence and beauty.
Welcome
This walk is not about taking the “perfect picture.” It’s about slowing down, noticing what’s here, and letting your camera or phone be a tool to explore your creativity.
It’s about being in the present, which is a gift we can give ourselves at any time.
As you walk, let yourself move more slowly than usual. Notice details. Don’t forget the bigger picture too. Pause often. Breathe.
Step 1: Arriving
Wherever you are in the woods, and before even taking out your camera, take a moment to be still. To notice the world around you.
- Feel the ground beneath your feet.
- Take three slow breaths, letting your shoulders soften.
- Notice the air on your skin.
- Listen for the nearest sound, then the farthest.
- What can you smell? The earthy woodland? The falling leaves?
- Let yourself arrive fully before beginning.
Step 2: Look Closely
Shift your focus to the details around you:
- Textures of bark, fallen leaves, patterns of moss.
- Notice the small details: veins in leaves, droplets of water, light dancing on surfaces.
- Frame one small thing with your camera, without rushing.
Let curiosity lead you. Don’t search for beauty, let it appear.
Step 3: Shift Perspective
- Explore the woodland from new viewpoints:
- Crouch low and look from the ground’s view.
- Tilt your lens upward into the canopy.
- Step sideways and notice how light changes. How the view between the trees change.
- Try photographing the same subject from three angles.
See how each perspective tells a different story.
Step 4: Shadow and Light
Observe how light transforms the scene:
- Pause where sunlight or shadow falls strongly.
- Notice how brightness and darkness shape what you see.
- Photograph the play of light itself, not just scene.
- Experiment with silhouettes, reflections, and soft glows.
- Allow light to guide your framing, not just your subject.
Step 5: Senses Beyond Sight
Let your other senses inspire your next photo:
- Notice the scents: damp moss, pine needles, earth.
- Notice sounds: birdsong, rustling leaves, distant water.
- Feel the texture of bark, or coolness of air.
Let your next photo echo those sensations.
Step 6: Reflection
End your walk with stillness :
- Find one quiet spot to pause.
- Put your camera down and simply be with the woodland.
- Take a few breaths, letting your eyes wander without expectation.
- When ready, take one final photograph as a gentle thank you.
- Let it be personal, not perfect: an image that holds presence.
This photowalk is part of Claire’s residency at Tehidy Woods, which is part of the Tehidy Creative Community and Wellness Initiative, part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
If you feel moved to share your images, you are warmly invited to post them on Instagram with the hashtag #tehidyquietmoments, celebrating the small wonders you notice along the way.
