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VERITY MILLIGAN
ADVENTURES OF A LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER THE SLOWDOWN
S I WRITE THIS, MOST OF THE WORLD IS Trips to Iceland, the Lake District and Snowdonia have all
in the grip of a pandemic which has curtailed been postponed or cancelled, and having that time back to sit,
our freedom and stolen so much from consider and let my mind wander has likely been more useful in
everyone, from work and creative outlets to the long run than any photography trip. It’s always my instinct
the more tragic loss of loved ones. It’s difficult to try and make the most of time, darting to different locations,
A to conceive how the world might look when endless streaks of early mornings. Yet, it’s occurred to me that
we eventually emerge on the other side of this, but it’s hard to I’ve been seeing these beautiful places but not fully experiencing
imagine that things will ever return to their pre-pandemic them, always partly removed by the camera that stands between
state, at least not for many years to come. myself and the landscape. This is backed up by the thousands
In the last column, I wrote of photos that congregate in my
about appreciating your local area Lightroom catalogue, reminding me
during this time of restricted I’M EMBRACING THE that I’m often guilty of editing one
movement, and I’m still practising RESTRICTIONS TO GIVE image from a shoot and leaving the
that. I’ve watched spring emerge rest to languish. Lockdown has given
along the Grand Union Canal on MYSELF THE SPACE me the impetus to explore these
my daily walks, noting the early archives with renewed appreciation.
arrival of the bluebells and TO EXPAND INWARD My mind has also turned to the
stopping to take in the majestic boxed A3 printer that sits gathering
wild garlic along my route. For the most part my camera has dust in my conservatory. Now, more than ever, there is joy to be
stayed in my bag and as I take my daily walks, I’ve been using found in the act of printing your work, of creating something
my phone to document the changing of the season. During tangible. The one thing that feels certain right now is
these excursions, my mind wanders to considering how this uncertainty, and I’m embracing the restrictions on movement
whole experience will change my perception of landscape to give myself the space to expand inward. The lockdown
photography in the future. won’t last forever, and when I’m able to return to the places
As social restrictions begin to ease, I’m curious about how that I hold in my heart, from Luskentyre to the Borrowdale
I’ll feel returning to locations that mean a lot to me, and Valley, I hope I’ll see them with fresh eyes and an appreciation
moreover, how I’ll see those places. Despite the tragedy that that far outweighs anything I’ve experienced previously.
this pandemic has wrought on our society, my personal
wellbeing has improved from an enforced slowdown of life.
Although landscapes are my passion, photography in general Verity Milligan is an award-winning landscape, architectural
is also my job, and I’ve watched all my work disappear in the and commercial photographer based in Birmingham. She
last few months. Although unsettling, I’m lucky to have some runs workshops and her clients include American Express,
provision behind me and a partner who is still working. Yorkshire Tea & Visit Britain. veritymilliganphotography.com
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