I'm James and Forests and Festivals is my response to a perceived need.
I have always been drawn to the wild. As a photographer, I have spent countless hours in nature — but I have learned that the human story provides just as much opportunity for visual storytelling as the natural world. In the landscapes I know best, the two are inseparable. A festival is an ecosystem. A forest is a cultural landscape.
I came to India as a UK diplomat and have now lived here for nearly nine years. Before that I lived and worked in China, Qatar, and the UK. I have carried out research in the forests of Tanzania before a dam destroyed those habitats. I have tracked tigers across central India. I know these places from the inside.
Travelling with young children forces a re-evaluation of priorities. The itinerary that serves the photographer rarely serves the six year old, and what works for the family doesn't always get you under the skin of a place. Forests and Festivals is my bridge between these two worlds.
It is for the adventurous traveller who wants to experience the real culture and vibe of a place but perhaps doesn't know how to start putting the pieces together — photographer and non-photographer alike.
I won't offer a sanitized tour; I offer an authentic encounter with places that defy easy description. Join me, and experience the unexpected.