Wetland photography, encounters and values

Between 2016 and 2019 I embarked on a photo-essay of wetlands in English Lowlands as part of the UKRI funded project WetlandLIFE. This was a personal exploration of the sense of place of wetlands as experienced through photography. The aim was to create a collection of images around which the values of wetlands could be considered. Over 2000 photographs were taken and 32 images formed the final collection. Thirteen photographs and two photo-compilations are presented in this paper alongside reflections on the contribution of arts-based research and photography to encountering nature and creating conversations about human/nature relations. The photographs are thematically presented in six categories reflecting different aspects of my wetland experiences, these are: Authority; Memory; Work and Leisure; Creatures; Texture and Movement; Vistas (expansive and enclosed). The photographs illustrate ways society and nature are intertwined and provide a departure point for conversations about wetlands as socio-natural places.