Taken during an extended pilgrimage through Spain, this project unlocked something in me I haven’t experienced for a long time, the joy of a slow-paced life. Continuously walking, following yellow scallop shells through some of Europe's unspoilt hills was wonderful. At times, I felt like an ant as I burrowed through the ancient tree-covered paths towards Santiago. This led me to draw ants in the dust along the path, a marker for future walkers.

 

It was tricky to capture the journey in images. If I went one step too far, the photo would be ruined. Perhaps this is why they are not of the normal compositional reach, going backwards was not an option. I’m not particularly religious, but it was the perfect time to mull over my spirituality, to explore our connectedness to earth, dirt, stars and sunlight. It’s this that I really think comes through in the work. I carried my supplies with me. My need for minimalism found a good place, as everything I needed had to be carried on my back. Walking from 7 in the morning till about 2 pm, followed by a large menu del dia with the companions I had fallen in with, supplied with a bottle of wine, a nap, another bar and sleep until the next early rise.

 

These paths are over a thousand years old. Walking, I felt like I was living a way of life from the past, when many would do a month-long walk at least once a year. A pilgrimage or two to get to the city. Our bodies are still composed in the same way, but they are rarely used in the same way. The joy of the easy friendships made along the paths kept me laughing, a powerful part of the Camino.

 

These paths are old and carry with them the joy within human journeys and the need to walk.