Journey for Wildness: Gill Moon

Taking on a visual Journey for Wildness, to raise funds for wild places, is photographer Gill Moon.

Trust member, Gill Moon, is a professional photographer based on the Suffolk Coast. She specialises in landscapes, waterscapes and marine photography and is passionate about promoting a connection with the environment through her work.

When the pandemic lockdown restricted her work and her world at the start of 2020, she decided to record observations from her daily walks on Hollesley Marshes, a RSPB coastal reserve on the lower reaches of the Alde-Ore Estuary. “I wanted the words and pictures to build a sketchbook of the landscape I was walking through. I wanted readers to feel they were there with me walking in my footsteps.”

Her project has now been published as a beautiful book Grounded – a year of nature connection on Hollesley Marshes. You can experience her seasonal exploration of her local landscape, and support our Journey for Wildness at the same time; the book purchase price includes a donation to the Trust.

Gill sees the world through a photographer’s lens, even when she is without her camera. She notices details that many of aren’t aware of, such as how light strikes certain objects, different textures, patterns and shapes. “If you go out specifically looking for a certain thing, you’ll see it more” Gill says. “Just go for a walk. Don’t wait. There’ll be some amazing nature wherever you are.”

Photography is a great way to observe, explore and appreciate nature because it inspires you to look at your surroundings more carefully.

In order to encourage others to connect with nature through photography, Gill is offering a special series of mindfulness workshops. Nothing to do with the technicalities of cameras, but focused on the experience of what you can see when you really look and immerse yourself in your natural surroundings, her workshops will take place at different locations in Suffolk, away from the usual tourist hotspots.

• Book a place on the three-hour workshop in Suffolk on 3 July between 7am-10am.  A £20 donation will be made to the John Muir Trust for every workshop attendee. 
• Find out more about Gill Moon and her book Grounded – a year of nature connection on Hollesley Marshes.