Discover our Area Through The Local Lens: James Kelly-Smith

Through the Local Lens' is a series celebrating the stunning Forest of Dean and Wye Valley through the eyes of passionate photographers who know this landscape intimately.

Each feature reveals what captures their imagination and draws them back time and again to this remarkable corner of Britain. From hidden gems that locals treasure to the seasonal transformations that make every visit unique, we explore how these artists see and experience the region's beauty.

Through their lenses and stories, discover what makes the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley so special, and perhaps find inspiration for your own photographic journey.

This one focuses on the talented James Kelly-Smith and his experience of the area.

What draws you to photography in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley?

How long have you got? My photography grew out of a love of hiking, so I’ve always been drawn to wide landscapes and dramatic vistas. As a child, I was fascinated by mythology and stories inspired by nature, and those landscapes really captured my imagination.

Since moving to the Forest of Dean four years ago, from just the other side of River Severn, I’ve become captivated by the woodlands too. This area has everything I love to bring into my photography — woodlands, lakes, valleys, history, folklore, and atmosphere. Over time, I’ve come to see how all of these elements are deeply connected. The landscape has been shaped by its mining and industrial past. Folklore has been inspired by natural features. And even the weather has its own quirks, with a micro-climate created by the River Severn on one side and the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park on the other. All of this makes the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley a unique place to photograph.

Can you share a location that locals might overlook but visitors would love to discover?

Not necessarily overlooked by locals, but one of my favourite places is Woorgreens Nature Reserve. From a photographer’s perspective, it has so much variety in one spot. The abundance of wildlife is a highlight — if you’re lucky, you might even catch sight of the highland cattle grazing.

The landscape itself is wonderfully diverse, with woodlands, heathland, and lakes. Around the edges you’ll find the Sculpture Trail to the southwest and, to the north, part of the Family Cycle Path where you can walk or cycle past the remains of old collieries like Foxes Bridge. For those who like a bit of adventure, there are countless woodland trails leading deeper into the Forest, where you could easily get lost for hours. It’s one of those places that works whether you have an hour or a whole day to spend.

What's your favourite season or time of day to capture this region, and why?

The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is beautiful whenever, but for me, mornings are always the most magical. Watching the Forest wake up is a treat — the light is softer, the atmosphere is quieter, and you often get the best conditions.

Autumn is spectacular here, with misty mornings and rich rustic colours, especially in the Wye Valley. It’s a great time for wildlife, with it being rutting season, so if you don’t get to see the deer, you can certainly hear them echoing through the woods. You will also capture the squirrels racing around collecting their nuts for the Winter…I have been bonked on the head a few times from acorns and conkers they have dropped (or thrown at me!).

But I’d also recommend visiting in spring, when the woodlands and valleys come alive with wildflowers like bluebells, adding bursts of colour to every walk.

Tell us about one of your photos from this collection - what's the story behind it?

Probably my most popular print is the photo I took of the ‘Cathedral’ Stain Glass Window by Kevin Atherton on the Sculpture Trail at night.

It was taken on a January evening, and I was making my way to Woorgreens Lake to experiment with capturing the night sky. It was a night of the Wolf Moon (January’s full moon), so the bright moonlight obscured some of the stars. But on my way to the lake I walked the footpath that takes you under the ‘Cathedral’ sculpture and was taken aback by the window as it was backlit by the moonlight. Most photos of the sculpture are taken with sun as a light source, so I thought it would be cool to capture something in contrast. It is not a shot I have seen taken before, and these are the gems I love to get, giving a different view to a familiar scene.

It was a difficult shot to capture, due to the bright light of the moon and the darkness of the Forest, as cameras are not as good as our eyes processing extreme light and dark in the same view. But using some know camera tricks to help compensate for this, I managed to capture the image perfectly, and be able to share this incredible moment with everyone.

What would you want visitors to feel when they see our area through your lens?

I’m a big advocate of encouraging people to love and appreciate where they live, and to spend time outdoors. That’s why I like to capture moments most people wouldn’t normally get to witness — scenes that show a familiar place in a new light, and hopefully inspire people to explore for themselves.

I often joke that I get up in the early hours in all weathers so that everyone else can just enjoy the photos later from the comfort of their homes! But honestly, the best feedback I’ve had is from people who’ve bought my calendars and used the 12 images as a kind of itinerary, visiting each location for themselves. That, to me, sums up exactly what I hope to achieve.

What's changed in the region since you started photographing here?

In some ways, the Forest feels like a time capsule, so deeply tied to its history and heritage — and that’s a big part of its charm.

But the landscape is also constantly changing. Storms, disease control, and forestry work can dramatically alter familiar places. There have been times I’ve revisited a favourite spot only to find it completely transformed. In some ways, I feel that is the role of us local photographers — we’re documenting moments in time that may not exist in the future.

What always amazes me is nature’s resilience. A patch of woodland cleared one year might be bursting with foxgloves (or snompers, as Foresters call them) the next spring. Change is constant here, but that’s part of the fun!

Any photography tips for visitors wanting to capture their own memories here?

Plan your visit around the seasons, and lean into whatever that time of year offers. There’s always something to capture — snowdrops in late winter, bluebells in spring, foxgloves in summer, the rich colours of autumn, and the stark, forlorn beauty of winter.

I absolutely love early mornings for their atmosphere — mist rising in the valleys or drifting through the trees can transform a scene. Woodland photography can be chaotic, with so much going on, so my advice is to look for structure and simplicity. Mist helps separate the trees and filter out distractions, and if you catch it just as the sun breaks through the canopy, that’s the Holy Grail.

One thing I will say is to be mindful of your impact, and always adhere to the idea of ‘leave no trace’. Make sure you take your litter home with you, give the wildlife space (especially when they have young with them) & refrain from trampling through or sitting on delicate wildflowers, like bluebells.

What local business, attraction, or community spot deserves more attention?

Of course, the Forest of Dean is best known for its woodland walks, and I always encourage visitors to set aside plenty of time to explore the countless trails that weave out from its popular spots. After a day of exploring though, you’ll definitely want someone else doing the cooking, and the Forest’s food and drink scene is really flourishing. You can get a taste of it at the Forest Showcase Food Festival, which takes place twice a year and celebrates the area’s incredible local produce and makers.

For a more relaxed fine dining experience, I always recommend Simply Wild in Coleford. Head Chef Michael Fowler has a real passion for showcasing local ingredients in creative, delicious ways, and it’s become one of my favourite places to eat. It’s a restaurant that truly supports the local community — and not just through its food. The photography you’ll see there is all from the local area… and yes, it’s mine!!

About James Kelly-Smith

I’m James, a landscape and nature photographer based in the Forest of Dean. My work has been described as having an immersive, atmospheric style, focusing on the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley, and surrounding areas of Wales.

My journey into photography began with hiking. In early 2020, I set out to capture a sunrise from one of the peaks in the Bannau Brycheiniog mountains — and failed miserably. That moment sparked a decision to invest in a camera, and with the time afforded by the subsequent Covid lockdowns, I threw myself into learning the craft. What started as a hobby quickly became an obsession, and eventually grew into selling fine art prints, an ever-popular annual calendar of the Forest of Dean & Wye Valley as well as greeting cards, with clients within the UK and internationally.

In recent years I’ve been fortunate to gain recognition for my work. In both 2024 and 2025 I received Honourable Mentions at the prestigious International Photography Awards for images taken in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. I am also a two-time finalist in the Eyelands World’s Top Black & White Photographers, and I have also been interviewed by Outdoor Photography Magazine. Alongside this, I give talks at camera clubs, sharing both my passion and top tips for the landscapes I photograph.

Closer to home, I’m becoming a familiar face at local craft fairs and festivals, where I love meeting people and talking about the local area through my work. For me, photography isn’t just about creating images — it’s about sharing the atmosphere, folklore, and natural beauty of a place I feel proud to call home.

You can see and purchase more of my work, such as my 2026 Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Calendar, at www.jkphotography.co.uk 

Follow me on social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jks.photographer
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jks.photographer