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9781787114166

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A brutally honest visual journey through breakdown and recovery - it's uplifting and beautiful in its simplicity - Chris Packham. Brave. Powerful. Honest. Stigma-busting. Inspiring. Awareness-raising. Intelligent. WOW. WOW. WOW. These are the words, exactly as I wrote them down, when I read the first chapters of this take-your-breath-away book. I had been eagerly awaiting my copy of Wildlife Photography: Saving My Life One Frame at a Time by Paul Williams. It's over 200 pages long, most of which are devoted to incredible shots of birds and beasts. So where do I start my review? To say that it's a beautiful book with stunning wildlife images? Well, yes it is, but it is very much more than that. An at first harrowing, but ultimately hopeful and uplifting story of a man's recovery from PTSD partnered with his wonderful wildlife shots? Again, it's more than that. What made this book so special for me wast that I found myself connecting and empathising with Paul's story, not just because of his words, but also because of his photographs. The first photos in the book are of the mice and voles that Paul observed from his kitchen window. These photos, like most in the book, convey a strong sense of the essence of their subjects. Like all the images in the book, these are impactful shots. There is also a photo of a red squirrel as it quizzically considers whether or not to venture out - an image that chimes with Paul's state of wellbeing when he was 'rock bottom'. I found these first shots in the book, while enchanting and great wildlife images, struck me at a visceral level too. Paul's story [is] actually two intertwined stories: the story of Paul's recovery from PTSD and the story of his developing love, skills and recognition as a wildlife photographer. The stories provide the context and the book's structure; the 200 or so pictures, each one incredible in its own right, provide a sense of the experiences arising from these stories. I am actually blown away by what this book achieves. In a deeply human way, it subverts any misconceptions put there that the alpha man is impervious to emotional pain, delivers a sharp blow to the still pervasive stigma associated with mental health, affectingly illustrates the ambivalence often experienced by suicidal individuals, and leads us through a journey of recovery, with its attendant twists and turns. This is a book that inspires optimism. The photos throughout the book are wide ranging. The early shorts are taken through the window from Paul's kitchen sink. With the passage of time, and as Paul's recovery progresses, we see pictures from further afield. The end of the book showcase shots from Paul's recent Artic exhibitions. These glorious final images are all the more affecting as they show us how far he has come. The quality of the photos are, or course, excellent. Some are sublime. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys stonkingly good shots. It is a book about the healing power of nature, the immersive experience of being a wildlife photographer, and about enjoying the moment. It is a lesson in a mindful way of living, and the emotional, physical and spiritual benefits it brings. -Jacki Gordon, co-editor of The International Handbook of Suicide Prevention. For Paul Williams, wildlife photography is an essential part of his existence; it enables him to cope with the PTSD that was brought on by a harrowing incident he experienced while serving in the police force. Wildlife Photography: Saving My Life One Frame at a Time follows his journey from rock bottom, and three suicide attempts, to his rediscovery of a life worth living. Beginning with the photographs of birds, insects and small animals he took in his garden in Dorset during the early stages of his illness, the book follows Williams on his path to recovery, and his travels to places increasingly further afield; the final chapter features wildlife portraits taken in Sweden and the Arctic earlier this year, demonstrating just how far he has come. Throughout the book, the now professional photography shares insightful commentary on his mental wellbeing, along with general tips on equipment, fieldcraft and techniques. Williams write that each of his images represents a small victory in his battle against PTSD and depression; judging by the superb photographs on display here, he is clearly winning. This is an inspiring and uplifting book that highlights the benefits of photography and connecting with nature. - Outdoor Photography.

A brutally honest visual journey through breakdown and recovery - it's uplifting and beautiful in its simplicity - Chris Packham. Brave. Powerful. Honest. Stigma-busting. Inspiring. Awareness-raising. Intelligent. WOW. WOW. WOW. These are the words, exactly as I wrote them down, when I read the first chapters of this take-your-breath-away book. I had been eagerly awaiting my copy of Wildlife Photography: Saving My Life One Frame at a Time by Paul Williams. It's over 200 pages long, most of which are devoted to incredible shots of birds and beasts. So where do I start my review? To say that it's a beautiful book with stunning wildlife images? Well, yes it is, but it is very much more than that. An at first harrowing, but ultimately hopeful and uplifting story of a man's recovery from PTSD partnered with his wonderful wildlife shots? Again, it's more than that. What made this book so special for me wast that I found myself connecting and empathising with Paul's story, not just because of his words, but also because of his photographs. The first photos in the book are of the mice and voles that Paul observed from his kitchen window. These photos, like most in the book, convey a strong sense of the essence of their subjects. Like all the images in the book, these are impactful shots. There is also a photo of a red squirrel as it quizzically considers whether or not to venture out - an image that chimes with Paul's state of wellbeing when he was 'rock bottom'. I found these first shots in the book, while enchanting and great wildlife images, struck me at a visceral level too. Paul's story [is] actually two intertwined stories: the story of Paul's recovery from PTSD and the story of his developing love, skills and recognition as a wildlife photographer. The stories provide the context and the book's structure; the 200 or so pictures, each one incredible in its own right, provide a sense of the experiences arising from these stories. I am actually blown away by what this book achieves. In a deeply human way, it subverts any misconceptions put there that the alpha man is impervious to emotional pain, delivers a sharp blow to the still pervasive stigma associated with mental health, affectingly illustrates the ambivalence often experienced by suicidal individuals, and leads us through a journey of recovery, with its attendant twists and turns. This is a book that inspires optimism. The photos throughout the book are wide ranging. The early shorts are taken through the window from Paul's kitchen sink. With the passage of time, and as Paul's recovery progresses, we see pictures from further afield. The end of the book showcase shots from Paul's recent Artic exhibitions. These glorious final images are all the more affecting as they show us how far he has come. The quality of the photos are, or course, excellent. Some are sublime. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys stonkingly good shots. It is a book about the healing power of nature, the immersive experience of being a wildlife photographer, and about enjoying the moment. It is a lesson in a mindful way of living, and the emotional, physical and spiritual benefits it brings. -Jacki Gordon, co-editor of The International Handbook of Suicide Prevention. For Paul Williams, wildlife photography is an essential part of his existence; it enables him to cope with the PTSD that was brought on by a harrowing incident he experienced while serving in the police force. Wildlife Photography: Saving My Life One Frame at a Time follows his journey from rock bottom, and three suicide attempts, to his rediscovery of a life worth living. Beginning with the photographs of birds, insects and small animals he took in his garden in Dorset during the early stages of his illness, the book follows Williams on his path to recovery, and his travels to places increasingly further afield; the final chapter features wildlife portraits taken in Sweden and the Arctic earlier this year, demonstrating just how far he has come. Throughout the book, the now professional photography shares insightful commentary on his mental wellbeing, along with general tips on equipment, fieldcraft and techniques. Williams write that each of his images represents a small victory in his battle against PTSD and depression; judging by the superb photographs on display here, he is clearly winning. This is an inspiring and uplifting book that highlights the benefits of photography and connecting with nature. - Outdoor Photography. [Paul] hopes [the book] will help to raise the profile of mental health issues and encourage others who are struggling to 'get out more, with a camera for company'. - Dorset Life. Photos in this splendid large-format book do more than capture the native world in all its magnificence. - Welldoing.org. Finding solace in the natural world, Paul created this enchanting book of beautiful photographs to tell the story of how nature helped heal his broken mind. - Discover Animals. this very honest and inspiring book will inspire anyone to watch local wildlife, whether you have a camera or not. - happyplanetblog.com. With some general tips and points about equipment, fieldcraft and techniques, this book seamlessly aligns photography with creative suggestions around mindfulness, well-being and holism to create a blueprint for anyone experiencing poor mental or physical health and who would like to express themselves creatively in the natural world. Whether you want to go into your garden to photograph the wildlife there, or head further afield, Wildlife Photography from the Edge will empower you to take the next step towards regaining your sense of well-being, and improve the quality of your life. – bookauthority.org.

A brutally honest visual journey through breakdown and recovery - it's uplifting and beautiful in its simplicity - Chris Packham. Brave. Powerful. Honest. Stigma-busting. Inspiring. Awareness-raising. Intelligent. WOW. WOW. WOW. These are the words, exactly as I wrote them down, when I read the first chapters of this take-your-breath-away book. I had been eagerly awaiting my copy of Wildlife Photography: Saving My Life One Frame at a Time by Paul Williams. It's over 200 pages long, most of which are devoted to incredible shots of birds and beasts. So where do I start my review? To say that it's a beautiful book with stunning wildlife images? Well, yes it is, but it is very much more than that. An at first harrowing, but ultimately hopeful and uplifting story of a man's recovery from PTSD partnered with his wonderful wildlife shots? Again, it's more than that. What made this book so special for me wast that I found myself connecting and empathising with Paul's story, not just because of his words, but also because of his photographs. The first photos in the book are of the mice and voles that Paul observed from his kitchen window. These photos, like most in the book, convey a strong sense of the essence of their subjects. Like all the images in the book, these are impactful shots. There is also a photo of a red squirrel as it quizzically considers whether or not to venture out - an image that chimes with Paul's state of wellbeing when he was 'rock bottom'. I found these first shots in the book, while enchanting and great wildlife images, struck me at a visceral level too. Paul's story [is] actually two intertwined stories: the story of Paul's recovery from PTSD and the story of his developing love, skills and recognition as a wildlife photographer. The stories provide the context and the book's structure; the 200 or so pictures, each one incredible in its own right, provide a sense of the experiences arising from these stories. I am actually blown away by what this book achieves. In a deeply human way, it subverts any misconceptions put there that the alpha man is impervious to emotional pain, delivers a sharp blow to the still pervasive stigma associated with mental health, affectingly illustrates the ambivalence often experienced by suicidal individuals, and leads us through a journey of recovery, with its attendant twists and turns. This is a book that inspires optimism. The photos throughout the book are wide ranging. The early shorts are taken through the window from Paul's kitchen sink. With the passage of time, and as Paul's recovery progresses, we see pictures from further afield. The end of the book showcase shots from Paul's recent Artic exhibitions. These glorious final images are all the more affecting as they show us how far he has come. The quality of the photos are, or course, excellent. Some are sublime. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys stonkingly good shots. It is a book about the healing power of nature, the immersive experience of being a wildlife photographer, and about enjoying the moment. It is a lesson in a mindful way of living, and the emotional, physical and spiritual benefits it brings. -Jacki Gordon, co-editor of The International Handbook of Suicide Prevention. For Paul Williams, wildlife photography is an essential part of his existence; it enables him to cope with the PTSD that was brought on by a harrowing incident he experienced while serving in the police force. Wildlife Photography: Saving My Life One Frame at a Time follows his journey from rock bottom, and three suicide attempts, to his rediscovery of a life worth living. Beginning with the photographs of birds, insects and small animals he took in his garden in Dorset during the early stages of his illness, the book follows Williams on his path to recovery, and his travels to places increasingly further afield; the final chapter features wildlife portraits taken in Sweden and the Arctic earlier this year, demonstrating just how far he has come. Throughout the book, the now professional photography shares insightful commentary on his mental wellbeing, along with general tips on equipment, fieldcraft and techniques. Williams write that each of his images represents a small victory in his battle against PTSD and depression; judging by the superb photographs on display here, he is clearly winning. This is an inspiring and uplifting book that highlights the benefits of photography and connecting with nature. - Outdoor Photography. [Paul] hopes [the book] will help to raise the profile of mental health issues and encourage others who are struggling to 'get out more, with a camera for company'. - Dorset Life. Photos in this splendid large-format book do more than capture the native world in all its magnificence. - Welldoing.org. Finding solace in the natural world, Paul created this enchanting book of beautiful photographs to tell the story of how nature helped heal his broken mind. - Discover Animals

Author Information

Born in the Lake District, Paul's love for wildlife and landscapes stems from being surrounded by the wildness, diversity and beauty that Cumbria offers in abundance. Paul joined the military at the age of 17, where he excelled in combat and intense physical roles. He went on to do a degree in mental health and later joined the police until PTSD and physical injuries forced him to leave in 2014. Paul is now a full time landscape and wildlife photographer, and has won a number of prestigious national and international photographic awards, as well as appearing on national television, and featuring regularly on radio.

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