Lockdown Through The Lens explores how our lives have changed in the last year during the Covid 19 pandemic. People have had different experiences; for many, the increased time at home has given new insights and discoveries about their immediate environment. Walthamstow photographers of all ages and backgrounds share images that have captured these moments.
As well as the online gallery, you can visit the exhibition at The Mill, from the 9 May to 24 June 2021.
As an adventure filmmaker and photographer, Fay Doyle had built a life and career around travel, mountains and big landscapes. So as Coronavirus turned the world as we know it upside down, the business Fay and husband, Matt Doyle had built around their love of adventure ground to a halt due to travel restrictions. The big adventures that Fay had grown to rely upon for mental health, self-care, confidence and income were all put on hold and Fay began to struggle with isolation, disconnection, terror and panic.
Within a matter of weeks, Fay lost the confidence built up over the years – feeling symptoms of anxiety return in a way that had not been experienced for years. At the same time, Fay was desperate to find a natural space to hike in within the remit of what was possible close to home in London and was surprised to find solace in a section of forest that they never even knew existed right by their house.
It was at that point that Fay decided to set the challenge to hike in the forest every day – taking in nature, wildlife and the changing seasons. To go back to where everything began with a journey of connecting with nature for mental health and practicing mindfulness. To have an education in the celebration of often forgotten natural habitats in the UK and the places they are. This formed the backdrop of The Spaces In-between in order to help inspire others to find a gentle journey of growth that feels individual to them and educating further on the power of nature whilst exploring their local woodlands and green spaces.
The film follows the story of connecting with gentle nature and wild spaces through Coronavirus and using nature to help your mental health. It looks deeper into the idea that sometimes our biggest growth experiences in life come in the most unlikely ways. If we can be gentler with ourselves, we can learn so much from everything we encounter.
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