Like most of us, how I saw the world was influenced

by my upbringing.

The stories I told myself were all tied to people pleasing, not knowing my own voice, overwhelm, overthinking and low self confidence.

Even though I suffered abuse from my dad at a young age, it meant that when Coronavirus happened, I had the time and focus to study trauma and its consequences on my body, my system .

Along the way I have dug deep and learned a lot about myself, shed many layers, found creative outlets that have helped me find my way, ope up, express myself, and just play, be curious and enjoy being me.

I was very humbled to have one of my photos, a coastal rock image, published in the OPOTY (Outdoor Photographer of the Year) book under the category - Waters Edge.

Shortly after this I booked a weekend creative workshop with the talented and inspirational photographers

Doug Chinnery & Paul Kenny.

We had the opportunity to have our work critiqued,

both Doug and Paul suggested that my 2 year project of the Cornish coast could become a book.

After I nervously asked him, Paul very kindly penned the introduction to my book , Elemental.

His unique work is inspiring, and moved me to tears the first time I saw it in his book, Seaworks.

You can find his artwork here :

http://www.paul-kenny.co.uk

If you have ever entered a photo competition you go through all the worries, fears, anxieties, comparisons…its a huge learning curve!

You can imagine my surprise when I heard that 8 of my images were shortlisted in the first

Close Up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) competition.

The shortlist was announced

with two of my images selected for the final top 100:

Goldfish - Manmade category

Bude Rocks- Intimate Landcape category.

Bude Rocks was selected to be featured in the CUPOTY article in Autumns edition of Outdoor Photographer 2019.

Having entered CUPOTY for a second year, “Cornish Storm” and “Horizon” were finalists in the Intimate Landscape category

“Towards the Mountain” was awarded second place in the Manmade category.

A simple image taken in a Cornish woodland of some old rusted metal hidden under bracken and weeds

The inspiring list of all the winners and finalists can be seen here:

www.cupoty.com

Time spent with my camera is a reconnection

to my inner self.

Life has become so fast, we have become accustomed to numbing through

doom-scrolling, online shopping, alcohol, drugs...

We can use art in any form to translate our fears,

loves, ideas and thoughts, to play, be curious, have fun again and just to see and connect to our environment.

We all have it in us to be creative and embrace

a fear of failure instead of allowing it stop us

from being curious

and getting back in touch with who we truly are.

Mel