Creative Life Journal
Reflections on creative life, photography, natural history, and fine art — shaped by a lifelong connection with nature.
Joined at the Hip
Images and words have always travelled together for me. While a photograph can speak powerfully on its own, words can guide, teach, and open new ways of seeing.
Here, in the quiet heat of the day, a young Lumholtz tree kangaroo gently settled the debate — climbing onto my shoulder and reminding me that presence sometimes matters more than progress.
Readers often begin here
Many of the ideas explored here form the philosophical backbone of my teaching and workshops.
Photography: The Art of Seeing Art
The Art of Seeing ArtSteve Parish on the art of seeing in photographyA reflection drawn from Module 3 of the Photography: A Pathway to Purpose Masterclass “Mastering light is a skill; seeing perspective and design is vision.Photography thrives where the two converge.”...
Bird Photography: Tips and Techniques
Bird Photography: Tips & Techniques Birds, more than any group of wild creatures, offer the ultimate challenge to all who pursue the art of nature photography. I took my first fuzzy photographs of birds in flight in 1975 on a field trip to south-west Queensland...
Digital Art: Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre
Kati Thanda - Lake Eyre‘Seek out the essence of your joy, then honour it with full attention.’ Steve ParishAs a photographer, I’m often torn between realism and abstraction. Thirty hours airborne from William Creek during a period of flooding stands as the pinnacle of...
Photographing Australia: Wildflowers
Photographing Australian WildflowersAustralian wildflowers have a strong appeal to the senses – some are voluptuous in shape and form, some fragile; some have a scent that is almost overpowering, but in others the perfume is delicate; some are bold and brightly...
Creative Life: Should we go with the flow
Go with the flow?Our chosen pathwayshould reflect our heart's desire. – Steve ParishWhen I consider a project has reached expectations, I always get an endorphin rush and a "Yes!" even if it's a single image. The more clearly the work expresses my emotions in the...
Digital Art: An Ode to Trees
An Ode to TreesThere are choices on life’s journeyto that boundless place beyond my mind.One would be to meet you once again—where sunlight bathes our conversationand feelings flow without direction or end. I dream you might, for a moment,cross my path once more—to...
Digital Art Abstracts & Impressions
Abstracts & ImpressionsWhen my mind ceases to think of outcomes I enter a state-of-play, a special place inside where true joy resides. - Steve ParishThis collection focuses on abstractions, montages, collages, and playful impressions of a wide range of content....
Natural History: Kangaroos and Wallabies
Australian Natural History:Kangaroos & WallabiesText and Photography & text Steve Parish - Profiles Karin CoxEven while I was working with macropod experts in the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service, kangaroos and wallabies didn’t capture my...
Digital Art: Black and White
Black & WhiteFine Art PhotographyMy very early fascination with photography was entirely black and white. I loved the darkroom, which, in those days of shooting film, every serious photographer did. My initial introduction was through street photography. Later, I...
Art at my Feet
Art at my Feet'As soon as I let go of my obsession with results,I'm transported to a world of pure fun and delight.It's a state of being where happiness reigns supreme,and I feel truly alive.' - Steve ParishWhen it comes to fine art photography, as opposed to...
About Steve Parish Digital Fine Art
The Lonely SailorAbout the Work“When my mind ceases to think of outcomes,I enter a state of play —a special place inside where true joy resides.”For more than five decades, Australian nature has shaped the way I see and create. Its wildlife, landscapes, textures,...
Photographing Australian Frogs
Photographing Australia:The World of FrogsAn extract from Photography Australia: The Ultimate Travel GuideApproximately 240 frog species inhabit Australia and many are struggling as they are ultra-sensitive to pollution, habitat destruction, and predation from...
Australian Bats
Australian BatsText Dr Les Hall - Photography Steve ParishBats are one of the fascinating mammal groups and are easily recognised because they are the only mammals with wings. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most misunderstood, feared and persecuted groups of...
Photographing Australia: Landscape
Photographing LandscapeAn extract in pert from Volume 1 Photographing Australia:The Ultimate Travel GuideAustralia is a wondrous land of ever-changing landscapes. From vast, open, arid dunes and grasslands with dead-flat horizons to craggy alpine peaks. These extremes...
Photographing Australians Outback
Photographing Australians OutbackAn extract from Photography Australia: The Ultimate Travel GuideMy connection with photographing people in streets, towns, and rural settings goes back to my years spent wandering Asia in the early 1960s while serving in the Royal...
Photographing Australia: Trees
Photographing Australian TreesWhether painted with autumn colours, dusted with snow, shrouded in mist or backlit by a crimson sunset, trees are amongst the most photographed subjects in the natural world. Photographing them can be pure joy wherever you are working –...
Photographing Australia: The Top End
Photographing the Top EndThe Top End is the name used for the northernmost part of the Territory. It encompasses beaches, mangroves and tidal creeks that are great for photography – but take mosquito repellent – then coastal plains that, during the summer monsoon...
Creative Life: Six Ways to Find Inspiration
Creative Life:Six Ways To Find InspirationHere are six ways to inspire your creativity. Music is at the top of my list while creating, especially when post-producing on the computer; I have created many a piece to the songs of Leonard Cohen! And of course, for many of...
