Nature Unlocked

Paul Moody is a photographer who uses his craft to graphically communicate his unique interpretation of the natural world. His eloquent style ignores the constraints of technical perfection in preference for the emotional essence of a landscape or detail in nature.

As urban life ground to an unprecedented halt during the 2020 lockdown, Paul witnessed a phenomenal resurgence of life in Fingle woods, the river Teign and the surrounding countryside. The lack of aircraft and silent roads brought a significant reduction in noise and air pollution that allowed a profound rejuvenation throughout every aspect of the natural world. He seized upon this exclusive opportunity to produce a series of compelling images recording the resulting abundance of fauna and flora.

In an interview with the Dartmoor Magazine  Paul recounts his solitary experience as photographer in residence for the Woodland Trust.

“The car parks were empty and the trails spookily void of any other humans. As man-made noise fell silent, the air filled with birdsong, seeming louder, more melodic than I can ever remember. As I listened to the concert throughout the day, it was difficult to feel alone with such an abundance of nature around me.

I felt privileged to be in this environment and apart from the ticks and midges, it appeared the local wildlife was unconcerned by my voyeuristic efforts to photograph them and their habitat. I expect most were too busy anyway, it being spring and there seemed to be an urgency everywhere to make the most of the good weather.

Looking out from higher up across the bucolic landscape, it felt like the countryside was experiencing a kind of natural mindfulness and calm. Even though buds burst out by the minute and grass rose quickly, there seemed a sense of orchestrated rest and renewal that I haven’t seen in past years. It was as if nature was saying, look what we can do for you when you don’t mess with us!”

The foundation of Paul's interest in photography emerged as a young boy when he bought his first camera at a junk shop in Jamaica, where his father had been posted in the Army. Later at school he convinced his headmaster to let him convert a laundry room into a darkroom and with the help of his physics and metalwork teachers, he built an enlarger and used make-shift developing trays. He knows from great personal experience the excitement of pursuing a creative passion especially as a young person and how it can bring a sense of well-being and confidence into one's life.

Nature Unlocked is a project aimed at educating an all-encompassing age group of people about the dangers we all face if the decline of important species remains unaddressed. The project promotes the need for scientific evidence supporting the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems to be used as an educational tool, to encourage everyone to actively take part in protecting our planet with personal and global policies to which we all must give urgent precedence.

A series of monologue films focusing on the personal experiences of various artists, photographers and sculptors form part of the Nature Unlocked project alongside the forthcoming exhibition at Greenhill Arts in Moretonhampstead, Devon (www.greenhillarts.co.uk) from 01 April to 19 June 2021. The principle aim of the project is to creatively inspire a wide spectrum of the community, to encourage a contemplative relationship with the elements and an understanding of the personal benefits that such an engagement can reap.

The Nature Unlocked project will perpetuate throughout 2021 as a touring exhibition with associated workshops, lectures and social media posts. Dates and venues (to include galleries, hospitals, libraries and schools) are yet to be confirmed for both virtual and live events. In July 2021 the Woodland Trust are due to host an agenda of events celebrating the successes of their woodland restoration work in recent years. Nature Unlocked is planned to complement these events with an outdoor installation. 

Paul remains optimistic that the power of artistic influence will continue to provide an effective educational tool in the battle to combat the decline of our planet.

He states, 'I intend to promote mental well-being through a greater understanding of the intrinsic part that the natural world provides. In turn the human race needs to nurture this untapped and unequalled holistic resource with the greatest respect and care. This planet can be renewable as opposed to expendable; a failure to recognise our duty will end in catastrophe.'