VAREST
A Photography Book of the Forest of Dean
Available Now
VAREST is a photography book documenting the Forest of Dean through its landscape, woodlands, and traces of its working history. Created by myself, local photographer James Kelly-Smith, the book brings together photographs made over several years, lead by changing seasons, evolving woodlands and time spent observing the Forest as a lived-in landscape.
The title Varest comes from local Forester dialect, one of several ways the word forest has been spoken and written over time. A reflection of both place and familiarity, and the way the Forest is known by those who spend time within it.
About the VAREST Photography Book
VAREST is a photography-led book that explores the Forest of Dean beyond its well-known locations. Rather than presenting a guide or a definitive overview, it offers a quieter, more considered look at a place shaped by its history and how nature has recaptured the past.
The book combines 80 landscape & woodland photographs with short essays and reflective texts, making it both a casual glance and a more in-depth read. The photography contains some of my best photos of the Forest of Dean, some are popular by others and some never released to the public before, suitable for those new to my work as well as long time admirers.
A landscape shaped by Industry and time
The Forest of Dean is often thought of as ancient woodland, but it is also a place shaped through its mining history and today's forestry activities. These histories remain present in the landscape, sometimes clearly visible and sometimes hidden.
VAREST is essentially a landscape and woodland photography book. But with each photo, it scratches through the surface of the Forest and explores its woodlands today, and how these historical traces sit alongside nature. Many of the photographs focus on its natural beauty, rather than location, for a truly immersive experience right from the comfort of your own home.
Woodland, water, and atmosphere
Much of VAREST will take you through my photography of the Forest of Dean's woodlands as well as its lakes, ponds and some wildlife. As you make your way through the book, you will experience the Forest's seasonal changes and atmospheric conditions it experiences.
This book is not intended to be a tourist guide, or even primarily a documentary of the Forest of Dean. This is showcasing my photography of the area, seeing the woodlands through my eyes and acknowledging that the Forest of Dean is more than what it seems.
My photography is inspired by nature and the atmospheric conditions they endure. But I am also inspired by folklore, mythology and fantasy literature such as J. R. R. Tolkien. So I tend to seek out scenes and compositions that feel like I'm entering into these worlds. VAREST is intended to take the reader on a similar journey, whilst also maintaining the integrity of the locations photographed.
Photography and writing
The photographs are supported by a series of short essays and text pages. These draw on my approach to woodland photography and general musings about the Forest, offering a an accompaniment to the images while leaving space for the viewer to form their own interpretation.
The writing is intended to slow the pace of the book and encourage a more considered way of looking, without competing with the photography.
About the photographer
I am landscape and nature photographer based in the Forest of Dean. My work focuses on woodland, water, and place, with an emphasis on atmosphere and observation.
My photography has received international recognition, including Honorable Mentions from the International Photography Awards, and has been featured in interviews and publications.