The Art of Seeing: An Autumn Photography Walk

We meet at Abinger Roughs.

As autumn settles softly over the woodland and the forest begins its slow exhale, photographer Henry Catling and forest bathing guide Lisa Duncan invite you to step away from the pace of everyday life and into a slower rhythm of seeing.

Together, we will wander through the ancient woodland of Abinger Roughs, where leaves drift gently to the earth, light filters through amber canopies, and every path tells the story of a season in transition. This is an invitation to pause, breathe deeply, and awaken your senses to the quiet beauty that autumn offers so generously.

WANDER & PAUSE
Our walk unfolds at an unhurried pace, following winding woodland paths and pausing wherever the forest calls us to stop. We will linger with shafts of golden light, the rich scent of damp earth, the intricate patterns of bark and fungi, the crunch of fallen leaves beneath our feet, and the gentle stillness that arrives as nature prepares for winter.

Each pause becomes an opportunity to notice more deeply—not only the landscape around you, but your own experience within it.

EXPLORE
Together we will explore questions rather than seek answers. How might you photograph the feeling of autumn?

Not simply its colours, but its atmosphere. The coolness carried on the breeze. The hush beneath the trees. The dance of a single leaf falling through the light. The quiet beauty of things letting go.

We begin by sensing. Closing our eyes. Listening. Breathing. Allowing the woodland to reveal itself before lifting a camera. From that place of presence, we gently translate feeling into photographs using whatever camera you have, whether a phone or DSLR.

RHYTHM
Throughout the walk, moments of mindful awareness and creative invitation weave together naturally. Henry will offer gentle photographic prompts that encourage you to look beyond the obvious—not to create the perfect image, but to discover a more personal and intuitive way of seeing.

Lisa will guide moments of stillness inspired by the practice of forest bathing, helping you settle into the rhythm of the season and experience the woodland with openness and curiosity.

No photography experience is needed. Only a willingness to slow down, to notice, and to be surprised by what you find.

REFLECTION
Along the way, there will be opportunities to gather, share photographs, stories and reflections, should you wish. Often, seeing through another’s eyes reveals something we may have otherwise missed.

FALL IN LOVE WITH SEEING
This is not a photography workshop in the traditional sense. It is an invitation to remember that photography begins long before the shutter is pressed. It begins with presence. With wonder. With allowing yourself to be moved by the world.

Come and lose yourself among the turning leaves, the soft autumn light, the textures of an ancient woodland, and the quiet wisdom of the season. Leave with photographs, certainly—but perhaps, more importantly, with a renewed way of seeing.

The walk is a gentle 2-3 miles, with plenty of time to pause, breathe, and simply be.