Why photography? Why now?: -

Our wonderful 22-year-old son, Alex, was killed on 16th September 2024. He was coming home on his motorbike after visiting his girlfriend, when he was hit by a dangerous driver who had chosen to overtake a lorry in thick fog.

I adored Alex. He was everything I could've hoped for in a son. He still lived at home, and we also worked together. My wife and I were on the scene 45 minutes after it happened, and our lives have been turned upside down forever. I'm utterly bereft without him, and as a family, each of us are just doing what we can to get through each day without him. I miss him every second of every day.

I spent the first few months after Alex was killed, shutting myself away from the world, trying to hide from life, unable to deal with the constant pain, trauma, depression, and dark thoughts brought on by losing my only son, and by what we saw on that shattering morning in September and in the weeks that followed.

Having spent an afternoon a few months later, sat at home doing the 'Big Garden Birdwatch' through the window, I found birdwatching to be a calming, pleasurable, yet easy thing to do. I got myself some better binoculars, and gradually started going out on my own to local nature reserves. I found it helped to allow the outside world back into my life on my own terms.

I find I need to try and keep my mind occupied as much as I can, and figured that getting a camera would perhaps be a useful way of keeping busy, and I find some respite by getting out in nature, immersing myself in the beauty that's around us, and trying to document what I can find. It gives me a purpose when I'm awake, and not at work.

I find that I'm now engaging more with the world again, and it encourages me to go about with my eyes, ears, and mind more open.

Nature is magical, soothing, and even the smallest, seemingly-unassuming things amaze me every day when I actually look up close. Nature, photography, music, some amazing friends, and the love of my wife and daughter have kept me going during these darkest, most horrific times.

This account documents my journey as a VERY amateur, hobbyist photographer. Everything I do in life is with Alex, my wife Bryony, and daughter Katherine in my heart, and at the forefront of my mind.

💙

It's lovely to see so many others here on Flickr who also get so much from being out-and-about, and I'm in awe of the creativity and vision on display!

© Stephen R. Edwards

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Please DO NOT use my photos without my written permission.

If anyone would like to use one of my photos (seriously, though, why would you?), please have the courtesy to ask & under normal circumstances I'll be happy to oblige.

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All my work is Protected by Copyright , please send me a Flickr mail if you wish to use any of my work.