Sunrise - John Pearce Provincial Park, September 2026
The word gratitude appeared in a few different places for me last week. It showed up in a friend's post, in an article I was reading, and on the sign hanging on my office door. And as I sat down on Sunday evening to write this post, it was right there at the forefront of my mind.
Perhaps it was a gentle reminder to pause, reflect, and appreciate what had just unfolded.
Hosting my first Art of Noticing: Mindfulness & Photography workshop is an experience that is difficult to put into words. Of course, there were some jitters! There were a few hiccups in the lead-up (a little piece of advice: I do not recommend the TRU Red Stapler from Staples!), and between preparing for the workshop, photo sessions, and everything else that this past month has brought, it has been a whirlwind.
But yesterday, I watched it all come together.
I watched people connect with one another. I watched them pause, slow down, and begin looking for the little things that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. I saw curiosity, quiet moments, and people becoming more aware of what was happening around them.
And my heart was singing.
This is what it's all about for me.
Sometimes, I lose sight of that. It's easy to get caught up in photography contests, the desire to capture that perfect wildlife shot, or the excitement of getting out into the field in search of a particular subject. I love all of those things, and they are certainly part of my photography journey. But yesterday reminded me that photography can be about so much more than the final image.
It can be about giving ourselves permission to slow down.
It can be about noticing the light filtering through the trees, the delicate details of a flower, the movement of a butterfly, or something small beneath our feet. It can be about stepping away from the endless to-do lists and expectations that fill our days and allowing ourselves to simply be where we are.
It can also be about connection. Connection with nature, with other people, and with ourselves.
Watching the participants experience these moments was pure bliss. And perhaps the most meaningful part of the day was hearing that every participant noticed an improvement in how they felt after the workshop.
Honestly, that is the best part.
As a registered social worker, I know how important it is to find ways to support our well-being in the middle of busy, sometimes overwhelming lives. As a photographer, I have experienced firsthand how time outdoors and looking through a camera can help me slow down, become grounded, and reconnect with the present moment.
Yesterday, I got to bring those two parts of myself together and share that experience with others.
And it reminded me why I started this journey in the first place.
A Little Gratitude Goes a Long Way
Today, I am grateful for many things, but especially for the people who have encouraged me, supported me, and helped me bring this idea to life.
Thank you to Follow Me North. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in my first photography workshop, for your editing workshop, and especially for Lost and Found in Photography last spring. That workshop helped kick-start this project and encouraged me to explore where photography could lead beyond simply taking pictures. Sometimes, we don't realize the impact an experience will have until we look back and see how it helped set something in motion.
Thank you to Helen Grose. Your quiet, calm, and patient approach in the field is a wonderful reminder to slow down and let nature come to me, rather than always searching for the next photograph. And yesterday, we couldn't believe how many butterflies were around us in October! Moments like that are a lovely reminder that when we slow down and pay attention, nature often has a few surprises waiting for us.
Thank you to everyone who joined the workshop. Thank you for showing up with open minds, a willingness to try something new, and a readiness to explore the world around you. Thank you for sharing your observations and being part of creating a space where there were no right or wrong answers, no expectations of perfect photographs, and no pressure to be anything other than yourselves. You helped make the morning what it was, and I hope you left with a little more calm, connection, and curiosity than when you arrived.
Thank you to Hannah for helping during the workshop, and to Kayla for all your help with the preparation leading up to it. Having your support behind the scenes meant so much.
And to everyone who has listened to me talk about this idea, encouraged me, shared a post, or simply offered a few kind words along the way: thank you. These things might seem small, but they have helped me keep moving forward, especially on the days when the to-do list felt a little too long and I wondered whether I could pull it all together.
Carrying Gratitude Forward
As I reflect on yesterday, I'm reminded that gratitude doesn't always have to be about the big, extraordinary things in our lives. Sometimes, it is about noticing the small things that make a difference: a kind word, a helping hand, a moment of connection, or the feeling of watching something you've worked hard for finally come together.
In many ways, gratitude and mindfulness go hand in hand. Both invite us to pause long enough to notice what is already here, rather than always focusing on what comes next.
We don't need a perfect day, a beautiful location, or an expensive camera to practise either one. Sometimes, all we need is a few minutes outside, a willingness to pay attention, and the curiosity to see something familiar in a new way.
That is the message I hope to carry forward through The Art of Noticing and my work with Steph Hounsell Creative Wellness.
I want to continue creating opportunities for people to slow down, connect with nature, explore their creativity, and discover how these simple moments can support their well-being. If yesterday was any indication, there is something truly special in bringing people together to do just that.
I am beyond grateful for this experience, for everyone who helped make it possible, and for the reminder that sometimes the most meaningful part of photography isn't the photograph at all.
It's how we feel while we're taking it.
And I look forward to many more opportunities to notice, connect, and share these moments with others.
With love and gratitude,
Steph
Steph Hounsell Creative Wellness
