Some really incredible images. These deserve a lot more of a different type of exposure and attention!
Ever dream of packing a
bag and leaving
everything behind to live closer to nature? Here's one inspiring photographer who did just
that.
After escaping a
destructive relationship and quitting her office job in Sydney, nature
photographer Julie Fletcher hit the road to experience all that the Australian wilderness has to
offer.
"I was very unhappy until one
day I made the life-changing decision to leave," Fletcher tells MNN. "I set a
date, got everything in order, packed my car with the essentials and drove away
with $3,000 in my bank account. It was the best thing I ever did."
That was more than 12 years
ago, and she hasn't looked back since. The abrupt career change led her to take
jobs at tourist resorts and remote cattle stations, which gave her the
opportunity to explore and photograph the surrounding scenery on her days
off.
"I was on a journey," Fletcher
reminisces. "A journey of photography, but more than that, I was rediscovering
'me' again."
Fletcher now spends her days traveling, camping, and hiking for miles just to the find the perfect shooting locations. Armed with her trusty Nikon gear and a dedication to the outdoors, she's managed to make a living out of her passion.
One of Fletcher's most
favorite photographs, seen above, was captured at Menindee
Lake in New South Wales. The photo,
titled "Graveyard," won several awards and was even a finalist in National
Geographic's 2013 Nature Awards. To this day, she still can't believe she
witnessed such a surreal moment.
"I don't just photograph an
area, I connect to it," Fletcher explains. "My tenacity leads me back to the
same location many times to achieve the right light for the right image, time
and time again."
When she's not trekking
around the country, Fletcher lives with her partner in the small, remote town of
Marree, South Australia. She's recently begun hosting workshops focusing on outback photography, as well as
collaborating with other professional photographers for group photo
tours.
Be sure to visit her Facebook
and website to purchase prints or sign up for a photo
workshop. There are also more beautiful photographs.
By Catie Leary
Pictures and story with thanks to MNN.
More pictures there.
