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Tucked away amongst our dusty childhood collections of Enid Blyton, Willard Price, Kenneth Grahame and AA Milne, our warping bookcase accommodates a treasured and tattered book by the author Frances Hodgson Burnett - the quite wonderful classic - 'A Secret Garden'.
My own name features within the story - the wilful and unhinged Master Colin - who finds better health in the realms of the enchanted garden. Years past, I would sit and read the foxing pages, with my steadfast bear Bruni, supposing a Robin would frequent my bedroom window sill and lead me to my own secret garden. This is what books can do; they broaden our dreams, our hopes, our imagination. In bear years, Bruni is 43 years old, and has followed me through a world of adventures. When our daughter Saffron Trinity became two, she unwittingly took over the guardianship of my cherished bear and they've been inseparable ever since.
Part of the attraction of moving to our new Hampshire home was the immense garden, blooming with wild flowers, cherry, pear and apple tress. These treasures are hidden from the outside world by a tall ancient wall surrendered to ivy and honeysuckle, with a medieval arched door that opens to the woodland beyond. The garden was always an obvious location for a natural shoot, and we deliberately photographed into the afternoon sun, over-exposing the images, to give a hazy, soft and summery appearance. The result captures those idealistic moments of childhood that we often yearn for in maturity; long lazy afternoons of biting sour apples, chasing honey bees and endless exploration. Inspired by the classic book, Howell & Light endeavour to tell another story through their photography; a tale of the joys of being outside, a blossoming garden where children bloom and great dreams are birthed.
We would love to capture your Summer holidays and little precious ones in their idyllic worlds so please do not hesitate to contact us for a natural or stylised shoot before school term starts and Autumn knocks upon our door.
