The Mountains are Calling
The sheer size and scale of the mountains are a sight to behold. The mountains hold a special place in my heart. It’s where my journey in to photography really began and where I have taken some of my best photos.
A sense of wilderness is something that is almost impossible to come by these days given that we are all just one click away from the other side of the world, but being in the mountains gives you that, if only for a few hours. No phone service, hours without seeing another person and a 360 degree view for miles knowing that you are the only person with this view. It’s really humbling. Knowing that these mountains were here millions of years before you and I, and will still be here millions of years after is a thought that I struggle to get my head around. What have these mountains seen in their millions of years existence and what will they continue to see long after we are all gone. The feeling of insignificance is not lost on me.
The best views come after the hardest climb – unless it’s cloudy
One great thing about photographing mountains is that they don’t move. This gives you the chance to take your time, experiment with different angles, and keep shooting until you’re happy with the result. The mountain isn’t going anywhere, so if you don’t get the shot you want the first time, there’s always another opportunity.
Mountains also have a way of transforming with the light and weather, making every moment unique. Sunrise and sunset can paint the peaks with golden hues, while mist and cloud create mystery and drama. A scene that looks ordinary one minute can become breath-taking the next, rewarding patience and presence. Photographing mountains teaches you to slow down, watch the changes, and appreciate the beauty in each moment.
For many, reaching the summit of a mountain is the ultimate goal—but should it be? Mountains have so much more to offer than just a trig point, and quite often, the top doesn’t even provide a view. While aiming for the summit is worthwhile, as with any goal, it’s less about the destination and more about who you become on the journey.
Not all that wander are lost – tell that to mountain rescue
The kudos of bagging the most well-known peaks is great, but if you want to queue for a two-hour summit selfie with 200 people, most wearing crocs and sharing 500ml of water between ten, then carry on. For me, being in the mountains is so much more than this.
The best moments I’ve experienced are when there’s no one else around. We’ve been swimming in enormous, crystal-clear lakes with mountains towering over us—an amazing sight. Yet, there’s just us there, our voices echoing endlessly around. We’ve hiked for six or seven hours and not seen another person. We’ve sat on ledges on the side of a mountain with as far as the eye can see to ourselves.
Meanwhile, people are squeezing themselves onto the tube day in, day out, with as many random armpits as you can shake a stick at for company. I don’t get it, and never will. But maybe the 9 million people of London don’t get why I would rather spend any day, in any weather, in the wilderness than spend a moment more than I have to shoulder-to-shoulder with the great unwashed of our capital.
The point is, going off the beaten track can be where the best moments are. Why not make your own path instead of following the crowds? The mountains are about peace, tranquillity, that feeling of being disconnected and off the grid. Not all who wander are lost; some of us are just happy to be away from the rest of the world, if only for a few hours.
Mountains for the Mind
In a world where everything seems to be moving at 100 mph, it’s no wonder why people feel anxious all the time. There’s so much pressure on everyone these days, and it’s no surprise. Social media: a toxic doom loop, an echo chamber of bullshit. People show you what they want to, and hide the things that they don’t. I hate it. It’s so fake, so transparent. I really feel for my kids, having been born into this nonsense. As an adult, the pressures of day-to-day life are real: career, family, money, health, work-life balance. It’s not easy.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I struggle with anxiety and depression. Life is hard, and there’s no harm in admitting when it gets too much. There is a strong link between the outdoors and good mental health; I can vouch for that 100%. This is one of the main reasons why I spend as much time outdoors as I can. It gives me time to think, get perspective, and reset. There’s nothing like standing on the edge of a mountain to calm the mind and give you a different view of the world.
