Faces From the Forest, Volume I

Faces From the Forest was inspired by one man's journey through trauma. Practicing the healing power of mindfulness while bush walking, he discovered an eye for finding the true beauty of nature. Through inviting the reader to observe the vibrant colours and intricate patterns of the 'faces' in the trees, the book guides the reader to be deeply present and connected with nature and themselves.


Author_Bio: I live in Canberra, Australia and am a father of two teenage children, a primary school teacher and a lover of the great outdoors.

My inaugural experience in the outdoors was a trip to South West Tasmania where I heard the breaking waves of the Great Southern Ocean long before I set eyes upon them, tasted the salty air carried on the breeze and saw the misty horizon in the distance. I was hooked.

Since then, I have bush walked throughout the lush rainforests of Tasmania, NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the A.C.T where a myriad of sights and sounds enliven the senses. 

I also have a passion for kayaking and have paddled the waterways of south east Australia and Fiji. I find unparalleled exhilaration and inspiration, a sense of awe and discovery, and a healing calmness in the outdoors. 

The outdoors has the power to restore the human spirit, to make us feel healthier, more creative, more empathetic and more apt to engage with the world and with each other. Nature, it turns out is good for the soul and good for humanity. 

For those of us who've experienced some of the worst of what the world can offer, the power of nature is a restorative therapy -- far better than medication and, in some cases, more effective than counselling.

I discovered the transformative power of mindfulness through my own personal journey through trauma. Through finding the quiet and stillness in nature I learned to be present and at peace even in the midst of a painful breakdown and subsequent recovery. 

Being a mindful observer, I discovered a great eye for finding the true beauty of nature. A natural progression was to start capturing this in photos. 

In truth, a photograph is only part of the story, and until you have felt the sun on your face, smelled the eucalypts after a fresh rain, heard the birds chirping you will always be missing something. I hope that seeing my images compels you to explore your own natural environment to complete the experience. 

My hope is that these images, created from the heart, will touch and inspire you to heal yourself and in doing so appreciate, and care for the world around you.


Keywords: Mindfulness, Mental Health, Photography, Nature, Self Help, Meditation, Health, Observation, Inspiration, Journey