Welcome to the Sunday Dispatch. Here are our top finds for the week of Nov. 28.
“Autumn Meets Winter.” Photo by Tiffany Mook Fraser.
01. Photographer pick: Tiffany Mook Fraser
Nature photographer Tiffany Mook Fraser attributes her inspiration to some Greek philosophy:
“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”
— Aristotle
Using different editing and lighting techniques for each photo, Fraser doesn’t have to travel far for her very diverse portfolio. Whether of sunsets, wooded areas or plants and flowers, each image presents a mood that tells its very own story.
Check out the rest of her photos at @mookfraser.
Knowing Nature podcast.
02. Audio pick: Knowing Nature
This podcast offers healthy, unbiased conversation that share experiences and perspectives to discover the best methods for helping all ages connect with the natural world. The 40-50 minute episodes cover a huge range of topics and feature in-depth discussions — usually with scientists, professors, authors or educators with reputable backgrounds — on the subjects of interest.
They also have “Film Club” episodes where they pick a nature film to discuss and talk about its effectiveness in educating the public.
Our favorite episode is Ep. 58 – Oil spills, science, and community in Alaska, and our favorite Film Club is Ep. 41 – Film Club – Whitefang. You can give them a listen at knowingnaturepodcast or on Spotify.
"Whispers in the Wilderness" by Erik Stensland.
03. Book pick: ‘Whispers in the Wilderness’
Nature offers some of the most effective healing tools — all we need to do is step outside and listen to the voice within. Take a walk (or look) into the woods with this multi-award-winning book filled with beautiful photographs and outdoor inspiration, all taken and written by the author Erik Stensland.
In a buzzing world with plummeting rates of anxiety, depression, and dissociative disorders, this book is special in that it offers alternatives to the pharmaceuticals and other unnatural remedies that never seem to get to the root of the problem.
Through a series of short articles, Stensland uses his own experiences as well as stories from prominent naturalists to encourage us to use nature's healing tools by exploring the sense of longing we feel for the wilderness to reconnect with nature, and eventually our true selves.
The book is available on Thriftbooks, Amazon and from other sellers.
Photo by Arnaud Mesureur l Unsplash.
04. Article pick: 'Why Trees Can Make You Happier'
We all know that trees play an essential role in our existence. But science suggests the benefits of trees go far beyond providing us with clean air to breathe, giving us even more reason to go into the woods! Give this short article a skim to find out how trees help us feel less stressed, improve our health, lead to less crime, and possibly make us more generous and trustworthy.