Naomi Alice Fowler
CULTURE | TRAVEL | ENVIRONMENT | HUMANITY
NAOMI ALICE FOWLER
Freelance Journalist & Fine Art Photographer
Raised in the UK, I grew up attached to the countryside because of the horses my family have owned since I was a child. Being an experienced horse owner growing up has led me to enjoy so much about the outdoors from a young age. A deep connection with the UKs rural landscape has influenced me in the desire to protect our traditional and natural wonders on this planet.
Having spent a lot of my life looking for the wild and untamed, travelling and having lived in India for almost 2 years, I’m an expert in documenting inspirational stories, moments in humanity and the miracles of both landscape and wildlife with my developed skillset.
Passionate about exploring my love for activism, the environment, culture and tradition, these all inspire me to seek out unique and authentic stories to share with my clients audience.
I believe it is who I am which enables me to create such beautiful moments in front of the camera. It is the way I connect with people and the relationship I share with the world around me which makes my work as a journalist & fine art photographer unique.
Trusted By
I work with charitable organisations, tourism boards, travel businesses,
brands and publications in areas focused on spirituality, travel, sustainability,
culture and tradition, outdoors and adventure, lifestyle & heritage
Gallery
About Naomi
The experience of working as a professional photographer for 12 years has allowed me to meet a wide variety of people from different walks of life. From the stories I have shared with clients to the images I continue to create, my goal has been to provide insight and raise awareness of this precious and fragile world through creative literature and fine art imagery.
Mesmerised by ancient cultures and the resilience of humans and their beliefs, my interest in our natural world, the environment and diverse aspects of humanity fuel my inspiration as a photographer.
After working for a charitable foundation in India documenting its numerous grassroots initiatives, I have always felt deeply inspired to challenge my mindset based on my travels and lived experiences. Travelling has opened my mind to the way other people live and the ways we choose to express ourselves based on culture and our spiritual connection to nature.
Culture and landscape around the world are at threat due to climate change, pollution, the eradication of natural resources, land privatisation, post-colonial political structures and the lack of funding. I aim to celebrate the achievements constructed by tourism boards, businesses, and non-profit and non-government organisations to help share the stories of their successes and overall impact.
With a global fight to preserve culture and tradition for the next generation; indigenous people are adapting to climate change, uplifting their communities with grassroots initiatives and connecting to their local landscape by implementing revolutionary restoration projects which I want to document. Traditional and economic practices amongst communities whose lives have been fragmented because of a change in climate, poverty and inequality are issues which people within the creative industry have the power to talk about by sharing in these intimate stories.
Partnering with clients to document these realities, helps to challenge people's decisions to take action by supporting campaigns, businesses and organisations who empower human rights, and protect the environment and its inhabitants while highlighting the importance of protecting wildlife and preserving culture. I am immersing myself within cultures and communities, including my own, to understand our changing world and to help give landscape, wildlife and heritage at risk of extinction a voice.
Many indigenous communities continue to hold onto their traditions and native landscape. We have to take into consideration an aspect of life the modern world has begun to leave behind; such as living in harmony with the natural world, the joy of community and the benefits it has on our mental health, knowledge of the land and the importance of using natural resources sustainably, local foods produced with ancient regenerative agricultural methods, the abundance of wild native foods and plant medicines on our doorsteps and the benefit of preserving artisan skills and crafts. These are wisdoms our ancestors all had access to which I want to highlight through my work as a journalist and photographer.
Every day people around the world are being forced to adapt to new ways of living. I believe it's important to remember while the West has ‘advanced’ far beyond most communities in the world, we should take into consideration the advancement of knowledge from ancient and Indigenous culture's relationship to the earth, with my belief that the modern world has a lot to learn by supporting and empowering their spiritual and sustainable way of life.
Humans are some of the most resilient and adaptable beings on this planet and it continues to amaze me from the vast and vibrant cultures I have experienced.
While most western cultures have forgotten the wisdom of their ancient ancestors, their connection to the land, the seasons and the power their spiritual beliefs have on their mind and body, many traditional cultures around the world still continue to thrive with this knowledge.
My question is; how are we empowering their delicate lifestyle and what can we learn from them...?
My Inspiration
The people I meet while travelling have inspired some of my favourite travel portraiture, stories and street photography moments. National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry has influenced my love and curiosity for documenting humanity while I travel.
While living in India I
learnt to speak and understand the connecting language Hindi. This helped me to build bonds with people which will last a lifetime. I believe photography is similar. Sometimes its about building a connection and trust. An image symbolises your connection with the subject which helps to tell their story. Because stories are intimate, its a skill in itself to allow somebody to show you themselves fully. Knowing how to build trust and that another human trusts you enough with their dignity to create an image together is one of the upmost privileges a photographer can receive.
