top of page


Democracy in Action: Climate and Nature Assemblies
What are the issues that concern you most? For me, it is the climate and nature crisis. I am increasingly frustrated that this is not at the forefront of political debate in the UK, even now that the National Emergency Briefing on climate and nature has made it clear that climate breakdown is no longer a distant or future problem, but is causing an immediate threat to UK national security, public health and economic stability. Although it is reassuring that I am not alone in
valeriehuggins0
May 184 min read


Democracy in Action - with Strangers
I am feeling nervous. I am standing in the town centre of Newton Abbot with fellow community activists from a group called Common Ground. We're all powerfully concerned with democracy and with how it is working (or not working) in our local communities. As a group we have no allegiance to any of the political parties that vie for our votes. Indeed, we believe passionately that democracy begins, not in Westminster, nor in candidates canvassing on doorsteps, but in ordinary con
valeriehuggins0
May 145 min read


One Square Metre, Thirty Minutes, Endless Detail
Inspired by a video from Kim Grant - and in need of some creative rest - I spent half an hour sitting quietly in my garden. Kim, herself inspired by Dutch macro and woodland photographer Jannette Van Der Boon, presents a simple but rich challenge: stay in one spot for 30 minutes and photograph whatever catches your eye within one metre. Her advice is "sit still and let nature come to you". I followed her lead, settling into a comfortable spot at the end of the garden beside
valeriehuggins0
May 52 min read


100 Steps From Home: A Short Walk, a Long Environmental Shadow
The task for this month is to walk 100 steps from my front door and take some photos. Simple. Look ahead and behind, right and left, up and down. I set out with just my phone camera, curious as to what would emerge. What will catch my eye? The first surprise was how far 100 paces took me - just to the end of the road, where I make the daily decision as to whether to go left or right: The 'For Sale' sign is for our house. I suddenly realised that I was documenting a significan
valeriehuggins0
Apr 294 min read


Happy World Earth Day 2026!
River Bovey at National Trust Parke Estate Today, April 22nd, is World Earth Day and this year's theme is 'Our Power, Our Planet', a call for collective action and community-led change. Since its founding in 1970, Earth Day has aimed to raise awareness of environmental issues such as climate change and the protection of natural resources. Over the past 52 years global campaigns have tackled plastic pollution, promoted climate literacy and ecosystem restoration. But given the
valeriehuggins0
Apr 224 min read


Buying BEV
This week I finally took the plunge and replaced my elderly Honda with a used BEV - a Battery Electric Vehicle. I have taken many years to reach this point. For a long time, I was persuaded by a familiar environmental argument: that it is often more sustainable to hold on to an existing, if elderly, car. The logic is simple - follow the usual environmental advice of 'repair and keep'. Extending the life of a vehicle spreads the 'embodied carbon' from its manufacture over more
valeriehuggins0
Apr 175 min read


Seeking Solace in Silence
My task this month is to photograph 'silence'. I looked the word up in the dictionary as a starting point: 'A near or complete absence of sound'. Photographs are silent, they do not make a noise. So, that is my first challenge. How to represent silence through the image? Maybe I need to photograph something that does not make a noise, or a scene of stillness. I go in search of a place of peace and tranquility, and naturally head to Dartmoor. But initially, instead of silence,
valeriehuggins0
Apr 143 min read


Storms over Teignmouth Pier: Climate, Community and Mourning the Future
I have lived in the same part of the world, Devon in the south west of England, for all of my life. I am rooted into this place and its familiarity is comforting and shelters me in these tumultuous times. This little corner of Devon has always felt like a safe haven. And yet I am feeling increasingly 'unmoored'. Reading ' Nation of Strangers ' by Ece Temelkuran is helping me to make sense of this disequilibrium. A profound and thought-provoking book, written as a series of l
valeriehuggins0
Apr 134 min read


Playing with the Blues
In my part of Devon, it rained every day for the first fifty days of 2026. From torrential, horizontal stinging rain that rattles the windows, to a soft drizzle that gently hangs in the air, and every mood in between. Everywhere is sodden: woodland paths like sticky streams, seafronts awash with stormy seas. The sky is continously grey. I hadn't realised how much I depend on the blue of the sky. We have had only the briefest of glimpses which raised a cheer, and then just as
valeriehuggins0
Mar 93 min read


Walking Forward, Looking Back
This is the time of year when we can feel like we are in limbo as we consider what was in the past year and what is yet to be in the year ahead. It can leave us stuck between inertia and momentum, confusion and clarity. That is very much how I have started 2026. I find myself dealing with a backlog of photography projects, frustrated with myself for not being more efficient. I am eager to start something new, yet resentful that I cannot do so because of the weight of the unf
valeriehuggins0
Jan 223 min read


Beyond the View: Reflections from Cape Town
Travel can be a delight. Encountering the unexpected, the new, leads you to rethink the old and come away with shifts in perspective. A place like Cape Town with its very diverse cultural and historical past, provides a multitude of opportunities. And there were some unexpected reminders of family - a sign to say that Singapore was 9661km away and then an impressive lifeboat too! The tourist bucket list for Cape Town starts with a trip up the iconic Table Mountain . And it d
valeriehuggins0
Jan 125 min read


London: a city seen through art
Living in Devon, I often feel far removed from what might be called 'proper culture'. My home town has a small local history museum but there no art gallery, and the nearest city, Exeter, also offers a museum with modest exhibitions that change just twice a year. Whenever I can, I therefore make my way to London in search of new delights. This December I was spoilt for choice! We started with a visit to Tate Britain, which I have not been to for many years, and our first enco
valeriehuggins0
Dec 30, 20255 min read


Chasing Light in Winter
In the UK, December marks the turn of the season. The winter days are short, and this year they have been exceptionally grey, wet and mild. More evidence, as if we need it, of the climate crisis that continues to build. So I have been looking out for splashes of light, to brighten me up. Here, I caught the early morning light on the water as I took the train to London, lifting the grey to silver: And played with abstract lines of light in the Design Museum : I woke the next
valeriehuggins0
Dec 29, 20252 min read


Exploring Bo-Kaap: History, Culture and Ethical Travel in Cape Town
During my trip to South Africa, I went to vsist the district of Bo-Kaap, tempted by the prospect of some great photos of its iconic colourful houses. It is one of Cape Town’s most photographed and culturally rich neighbourhoods, famous for its brightly painted houses and deep Cape Malay heritage. But beyond the colours lies a history shaped by colonialism, slavery, Apartheid, and a community determined to preserve its identity. Visiting Bo-Kaap can be both fascinating and..
valeriehuggins0
Nov 29, 20253 min read


Musings on Mindfulness in Winter
Some days everything seems alright with the world. Take a November day when yesterday's storm has passed through and tomorrow's is yet to arrive. The sky is as blue as blue can be. The sun is low in the sky, and you can see for miles. The air is still. And then go and sit on the beach. Close your eyes. Breathe in the freshness, taste the salt in the air, and listen to that gentle swish of the waves as they kiss the sand and then fade back. Here are the photos that emerged fro
valeriehuggins0
Nov 26, 20251 min read


Kruger National Park: Conservation in changing times
As I headed to South Africa, I carried with me a host of preconceptions largely shaped by my previous experiences in other African countries. During the two-week trip I found that these ideas were challenged again and again. Our adventure began in Kruger National Park, where we stayed in an exclusive eco-resort — an epitome of luxury amid the wilderness. From our private pool, we could gaze down into the valley where hippos wallowed in the river, a fish eagle hunted for food,
valeriehuggins0
Nov 19, 20255 min read


Autumnal Kaleidoscope
Here in the UK, October marks a turning point when the warmth of summer slips away and the we start the journey into winter. The weather is changeable, with some lingering sunshine amidst the storms and other days of soft, damp greys. There is a quiet urgency to photograph the changing kaleidoscope of autumn colours before they are lost for another year. I usually take photos when the light catches my eye, sparks of colour that stand out. I avoid the gloom of misty or rainy d
valeriehuggins0
Oct 16, 20253 min read


Autumn Paths
In search of creative inspiration, I set out to explore a new woodland: Hembury , an ancient forest nestled between two valleys carved out by the River Dart and its tributary, the Holy Brook , near Buckfast in South Devon. I was drawn by the promise of winding riverside paths, dense woodland, and the chance to spot wildlife. Although summer was drawing to a close and the first signs of autumn had begun to appear, the weather remained fair—perfect for a walk. But almost immedi
valeriehuggins0
Oct 13, 20253 min read


Autumn's Threshold: seeking connections in the woodland
This month marks the autumn equinox—a moment of balance between light and dark, day and night. It’s a natural pause point, a quiet...
valeriehuggins0
Sep 29, 20254 min read
A Day in Plymouth with the RPS
I signed up for a one-day workshop in Plymouth with the Royal Photographic Society, and as I headed down on the train, the rain was...
valeriehuggins0
Sep 13, 20253 min read
bottom of page