Vanessa Champion

I actually started selling my landscapes when I was a teenager, and even when at one point I decided I wanted to be an academic and did a PhD in Greek and Latin at University College London, I was still often found outdoors walking and taking photos. While at university to make up some money, I moved into documentary and portrait photography. I went on to shoot people like Pavarotti and Adele and thousands of images of corporate events, inductions, operas, live music, album covers and family shoots, nature photography was always my down time. I still do the documentary and portrait work.

About a decade ago I established a philanthropic photography agency, PhotoAid Global Foundation which helps NGOs and charities with photography and film. We've shot all over the world now, and I've been blessed to call many of those I've met and worked with friends.

I think travelling the world and being immersed in different lands, cultures, food, music, light, air and landscapes makes you really appreciate just how intricate and fragile the world is, but also how resilient and wonderful and life affirming people are and nature is. From travelling with and documenting nomads in Africa to following an inspirational Rinpoche in Nepal and visiting the quietness of Lumbini (which is said to be the birthplace of Buddha) I have often witnessed just how profound and deep-rooted our connection with nature is. Working with people whose lives are 100% dependent on nature, whether it rains to water the crops and brings fresh water to drink or if the sky is clear and visibility increases for miles to watch for predators. Once you've seen this, it's hard to accept what we are doing to our planet. How our climate has changed is ravaging these communities, and of course everyone is feeling it from the tallest office block in New York to the lowest island in the Pacific.

It is the reason I also set up the Journal of Biophilic Design, to help connect those dots. Media makes a difference, we know the power of an image to make change, inspire people into action and also empathy. Being surrounded by beauty of nature we know makes us more empathetic and more likely to act more sustainably.