We strive to raise our children close to nature, fostering a deep connection with the natural world. In today’s society, there is little room for doing things at one’s own pace, which we believe is essential. Modern life often feels disconnected from nature, missing out on its vital benefits.
What does it feel like to truly set your own rhythm and feel free as a human being? How does this freedom impact our children and their mental well-being?
Through this project, I aim to explore the profound effects of a life intertwined with nature. By capturing our journey through photography, I seek to document our experiences as we learn, grow, and discover the world around us. Each image tells a story of exploration, from identifying plants and animals to understanding the rhythms of nature and how they influence our daily lives.
While this project officially began in 2024, it also incorporates a handful of earlier images taken in the years leading up to it. These photographs reflect moments that align seamlessly with the vision of Closer. Though captured before the project had a name, they carry the same essence—our connection to nature, the small discoveries, and the quiet beauty of living intentionally.
Our homeschooling and nomadic lifestyle allow us to break free from conventional constraints and embrace a more holistic approach to education and living. This project is not just about our family’s journey, but also a reflection on how reconnecting with nature can inspire and nurture the human spirit in a broader sense.
We strive to raise our children close to nature, nurturing a deep, living connection with the world around us. In today’s fast-paced society, there is little room for doing things at your own rhythm—something we believe is essential for well-being and growth.
Holding Fragility -
In our hands lies the essence of gentleness. Holding a moth is more than a moment—it’s an encounter with the fragility of life itself. It calls for care, respect, and a quiet connection to something greater than ourselves. Here, we find the art of slowing down, of noticing what often goes unseen, and of remembering that we are part of the same delicate web.
for care, respect, and a quiet connection to something greater than ourselves. Here, we find the art of slowing down, of noticing what often goes unseen, and of remembering that we are part of the same delicate web.
for care, respect, and a quiet connection to something greater than ourselves. Here, we find the art of slowing down, of noticing what often goes unseen, and of remembering that we are part of the same delicate web.
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Soft Armour
- A coat shaped by wind and weather—soft, yet strong. The textured body of the horse speaks of quiet resilience. In this stillness, we are reminded: protection does not need to harden to hold.
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Wind Apples from Navarra -
It reminds us of the joy found in simplicity: the way a child reaches for a fallen apple, the rustling leaves carried by the breeze, the grounding presence of soil underfoot. Though captured in an earlier chapter of my journey, this image holds the seeds of Closer—an exploration of our connection to the natural world and the lessons it teaches about resilience, beauty, and belonging.
in simplicity: the way a child reaches for a fallen apple, the rustling leaves carried by the breeze, the grounding presence of soil underfoot. Though captured in an earlier chapter of my journey, this image holds the seeds of Closer—an exploration of our connection to the natural world and the lessons it teaches about resilience, beauty, and belonging.
for a fallen apple, the rustling leaves carried by the breeze, the grounding presence of soil underfoot. Though captured in an earlier chapter of my journey, this image holds the seeds of Closer—an exploration of our connection to the natural world and the lessons it teaches about resilience, beauty, and belonging.
Among the orchards of Navarra, nature plays its own symphony. The trees, weathered by the seasons, release their treasures to the wind—apples that fall as gifts from the earth, scattered across the ground. This photograph, taken before Closer officially began, reflects the quiet rhythm of a slower pace of life, one that celebrates nature’s abundance and fleeting moments.
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In the Arms of the Earth - In the vast silence of the mountains, a child stands still, eyes closed, feeling the steady pulse of the earth beneath their feet. This moment speaks to something deeper than what we see—a quiet reminder of how nature holds us when we slow down enough to listen.
Ephemeral Balance - The hornet, dusted with sand, lands briefly on the skin, creating a moment of fragile balance between human and nature. This fleeting encounter, delicate yet significant, highlights the beauty found in the subtle equilibrium between our world and the natural one. In this brief stillness, nature’s quiet presence makes itself known, a reminder of the intricate connections that bind us.
Feathered Rest -
In the hush of golden light, the pelican folds into itself. There is safety here, in its own wings. A moment of pause—a lesson in resting within, and the quiet rhythm of simply being.
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Riverside Reflection - In this quiet pause, the river becomes a mirror—of the child, the forest, and the fleeting beauty of the moment. The water flows gently, holding reflections of stillness and wonder, inviting us to see ourselves as part of nature’s rhythm.
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Self Embrace - The swan curves gently into its own shape. Feather upon feather, light upon light. In this posture, something essential: a return inward. A gesture of softness, and of knowing when to turn home.
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Cradling the Seasons - Delicate blossoms, held in curious hands, mark the turning of the seasons. Each petal, soft and fleeting, whispers of renewal—resilience born in the cold. Captured before Closer began, this image holds the same quiet presence that now shapes the heart of the project.
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Whisper of the Meadow -
The brown cow almost disappears into the lush grass of the meadow, with only her back visible, like a soft whisper from nature itself. She symbolizes the deep-rooted peace and connection to the earth, undisturbed by the world around her. This image captures the simple beauty of a life in harmony with the natural surroundings.
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Guardians of the Small -Small hands, earth-stained and open, offer shelter to a creature no bigger than a thumb.
In this brief exchange, gentleness becomes instinct—an unspoken knowledge that care is stronger than control.
Nature teaches us this, again and again: that true strength often arrives in the shape of tenderness.
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Sunbound Silence - Two children beneath the setting sun—one in water, one on land. Stillness stretches between them, unspoken. This golden pause holds the spirit of Closer: unhurried, connected, fully alive.
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Silent Majesty - The white peacock stands in light, quiet and luminous. Its feathers catch the last warmth of day, glowing like breath before dusk. A presence felt more than seen—ephemeral, watchful, whole.
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