‘Journey’ is a series of images taken in the woods near Grange village in Cumbria. They are representative of the transformative effect of a woodland walk that makes reference to the stages of Joseph Campbell’s ‘Heroes Journey’ and drawing on the mythologies of Woodland spaces.
From a psycho-analytical perspective, the forest and woodland are usually associated with the unconscious mind. Jung found it unsurprising that these feature so heavily in our fairytales as they were representative of the realm of the unconscious and our journey through life. Once crossing the threshold, we embark on a process of self-discovery. There are always obstacles and dark moments that we have to face and sometimes there is a mountain that seems too big to climb.
The series was influenced by Ellie Davies’ forest images and particularly the work of Chrystal Lebas that captures the ambience of woodland spaces from the rocks, the rotting trees and the lush fauna that exists beneath them.
My Journey was a chance to reflect and loose myself in the mythologies of the trees and mountains. To feel like the hero embarking on an adventure, to conquer the rough terrain and to experience the transformative effects of time spent in apparent wildness. Then to return victorious to the comfort of home.
Landscape, Place and Environment 