‘Walking with Presence’ is a photographic project exploring the British Woodlands, where crooked trees and shifting light suggest that the boundary between worlds is thinning, leaving space to challenge the structure of the physical world. The woods can be a place of spiritual awakening and personal growth, where the perils of the unknown are entered to find what secrets hide behind the branches.
Across different cultures, trees are portrayed as mediators between the spiritual divine and the human world. The Greeks worshipped dryads and nymphs for guidance, and in Celtic mythology, trees often carried superstitions where they used the landscape to tap into their subconscious. In general, woodland spirits are about protecting their territory. If we honour the woods, they protect us in return; but if we don’t, they’ll do as they please to preserve their home.
Spirits reflect the complicated relationship people have with the woods, ranging from fearing them to deeply connecting with the emotions these places evoke. To experience these magical moments, you just have to be open to seeing them.
