By Paul Macdonald
Warminster resident Justine Hadfield literally ‘snapped’ out of lockdown and kept a safe social distance taking full advantage of her home town location.
To deal with the stress and anxiety of the restrictions, Justine returned to a therapeutic way of enjoying the open countryside and capturing images of nature at its best.
Justine was on anti-depressants for 16 years until taking up photography. She did not go out at all in the first four weeks of lockdown and only cautiously in the following weeks.
“I found photography helped me enormously, and within weeks of taking up the hobby, I stopped taking anti-depressants,” she said.
The only fresh air enjoyed at first was a walk in the garden to her workshop where she makes artistic glassware for sale.
Dusting off her camera, Justine now enjoys capturing images of the landscape, animals and plants in their natural habitat
and her first steps from the front door took her to Smallbrook Nature Reserve. It also inspires her creativity in making the unique glassware.
“It is easy to strictly socially-distance visiting areas of Salisbury Plain and our rural sites spending hours trying to capture the perfect picture.
“I have also made three new friends with the same passion that I have re-awakened and we call ourselves ‘four on tour’,” said a smiling Justine.
“This month we went out on our first full day on Salisbury Plain for hares in the morning and Tidworth for butterflies in the afternoon.“ I have learned a lot about fieldcraft as well, to get as close as I can to our amazing wildlife, and I did 17,000 steps!”
In one day, her lens can capture up to 500 images to make sure one can inspire her next work of art. Recent ‘tours’ have included rural locations in Dorset.
“I also feel good that sharing my photos on social media has brought pleasure to those under a more severe lockdown than many us are now allowed.”
Picture:
One of Justine’s landscape shots that inspire her work.