WHY: A SKETCHBOOK OF LIFE
WHY: THE WHY OF WHY
At the tail end of my interviews, I’ve been asking my studio guests for a fair while, what is your why? Those who answer mostly and understandably interpret the question to be one that’s trying to unpick the reason for making and taking pictures, recording the World in a fraction of a second. Others observe in a more introspective fashion through the lens of their life, how people or situations forge the answer to a question I’ve begun to consider could be a whole podcast series of its own. Though I enjoy asking this rather searching question, I’ve not attempted to answer it myself in any great detail, until now.
Across 99 pages supported by 116 photographs in the eBook WHY: A SKETCHBOOK OF LIFE, I publish twenty answers received from photographers to this question, some recent, the remainder taken from archived reaches of The Photowalk podcast.
Pages from the book.
WHY: THE SYNOPSIS
This first Photowalk eBook leads with a personal account of a particular day in 2009 that has, upon reflection, helped me recognise the facets of my own life that forge a creative leaning. The answers to why explored within the opening chapter lead toward a serendipitous discovery of sketchbooking with a camera; a desire to photographically record and share the every day, be that vista-styled beauty, human curiosity, carefully curated moments, or the wondrous mundanity we so often pass without even so much a second glimpse. Neale James, 2023.
The book concludes with a series of further questions which prompt you to consider the why of your own life and creativity. Your answers may indeed form private reflection, or if you feel emboldened, perhaps you might consider sharing your thoughts with me, so that I may share your revelatory words with our special community of walkers and photographers within the podcast.
WHY: THE PROJECT AND PODCAST
The Photowalk podcast is a unique audio and visual community project for those who find creative outlet and mental health well-being through photography and walking. It is financially supported kindly by commercial sponsorship, those who are members of the Extra Mile Patreon community and sales of this eBook. Your purchase goes toward the technical costs of this show and the creative time taken to produce a weekly long-tail broadcast project. It’s a way to support the programme as we continue to walk together in 2024.
Sketchbook images featured within the book.
All photography in the eBook is © Neale James 2023.
No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any manner without written consent from the author and photographer.