Natalie Arber, My Urban Girl (PEOPLE WILDERNESS 2023)

A foreigner to the wilderness as she explores the trails of Kauai, my urban girl immerses herself among the rainforest. A canopy of vibrant green transforms the harsh Hawaiian sun into soft dappled light a midday. Thanks to the shade, she can engage in the full sensory experience on offer. The air has a slight salty smell from the ocean nearby with a touch of sweetness from the flora, the vivid colours and textures are wondrous compared to the concrete jungle where she comes from. The leaves falling at her face as she navigates the path invite her to feel their velvety softness as she gently moves them out the way of her face being mindful not to break them off because she has learned to leave Kauai better than she found it.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.