Wild landscapes & outdoor adventure with emily barnard - (@exploringemily)

A Short Bio:
Photographer, filmmaker and creative explorer.
For over a decade, I’ve been chasing stories through a lens, from a career starting in wedding and events to commercial campaigns and adventurous passion projects.
My work is rooted in curiosity and a love of connection whether that’s between people, with nature, or through storytelling. I help brands and individuals tell their stories in ways that feel honest, thoughtful, and beautiful.
Outside of client work, you’ll often find me with a camera in hand, experimenting with film photography, documenting travel, or crafting personal projects that challenge my creativity.

**1. You’ve got such a beautiful way of blending creativity with adventure. Where did that love for exploring the outdoors and capturing it on camera come from?**

I was very fortunate to do some of my photography training in the Lake District and it’s a pretty inspiring backdrop to learn in. I see a peak and think, I wonder what it looks like up there? Friends and family think I’m mad but I love the concept of ‘earning a photo’ printing it, framing it and putting it up on the wall. Hiking 7 hours to Sgurr Na Stri comes to mind on the Isle of Skye, enjoying a piece of untouched wilderness all to yourself, a view that is mind boggling and not another human around. There’s so much out there that I want to see and it’s begging to have it’s photo taken.

**2. What does adventure look like for you these days? We know not every wild moment needs to be massive, what kind of mini or slow adventures are filling your cup at the moment?**

I’m definitely leaning into slower adventures. I’ve noticed that going on adventures can become a tick list, folks rushing around to tick off the next location and then onto the next. But did you really get to experience it and enjoy it? Having the luxury of spending 3 weeks in Iceland last year showed me how to be present in a moment and really explore a place and immerse yourself in a location. In my mind I can still take myself back to some of the places we visited, the textures, the sounds and the smells. It was a completely different experience, and one that I want to pursue more. I’d recommend making time to do nothing when you go places, just sit there and take it all in rather than rushing to the next location. Recently, I’ve focused on trying to get a few more long weekends in places rather than rushing up and down the motorway for a day and actually and purposefully not planning in too much once we’re there and seeing where things take us!

3. **We’re always interested in what makes it into peoples camping bag. Besides the camera, what are 3 things you’re always taking to the campsite?**
A hipflask, some nice seasoning to make some great food incredible (I wasn’t paid to say that!) and a good knife. I love my Blok chefs knife, that’s always in my tool roll and a Mora field knife with a fire steel in the handle, so useful! Ps. those field blends tins are so useful too once you’re done with the seasoning!

**4. You’ve been to some pretty wild locations over the years! Any favourites you’d recommend to any of our adventure loving community?** Corr I’m always conflicted about shouting out locations. The Roseland coast in Cornwall will always have a piece of my heart and staying in the UK, you can’t beat the west coast of Scotland for wild locations! When I hear someone mention the NC500 I’m always quick to say, cut the first half! Of course, if you’ve seen my instagram too you’ll see I certainly hunted out off the beaten track locations in Iceland too, I like to do that..

**7. When you head out exploring on your own, what advice would you give to anyone, especially some of our female community members that can find being alone outdoors daunting at times?**

I certainly hear hesitation from Women about heading out on their own sometimes, but I say just do it. Of course, stay safe, check in with your friends and family, let them know where you’re going, share your location with them. Try to not make any stupid decisions… But life is too short to not go and explore. And just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Can you find an adventure buddy to go do these things with? Nothing grinds my gears more when I hear a friend or family member say they’ve seen one of my shots and think “oh I’d love to go there” Make it happen!! Adventure doesn't have to be inaccessible or expensive. There are always ways to pair it down and get a taste of adventure, it’s so freeing, you’ve got to do it. I’m convinced that your body and mind needs adventure to thrive. I have a list of adventures I want to do, and my rule to myself is to always to be working on making the next one happen in the background. It’s really motivating and gives you something to look forward to and work towards.

8. **We have been following the outdoor kitchen build. What is it about outdoor cooking that made you want to create this space?**

I love cooking outdoors, that’s the ultimate ‘mini’ adventure to me. I’ve been seen cooking out in the garden in the dark in winter, and I own many a BBQ and I like trying out different techniques and flavours. It’s the perfect mix of adventure, exploring and creativity for me. Some things work out great, somethings not… but more have been good as the years have gone by and more experiments have been done. I guess that’s why it’s been time for a little upgrade and to have a proper purpose built kitchen in the garden, it has been a dream of mine for a while. I can’t wait to spend a whole day in the garden, listening to music and a nice drink in hand, and periodically checking on what’s cooking. That sounds like a pretty perfect day for me.

9. A Field Blends Flash Round!

Campfire questions:

Last Adventure you went on? Angle Tarn Wild Camp in the Lake District
If you could invite 3 people dead or alive camping who would they be? Ooo thats a goody! Ok, for context I’m imagining a good hike to the camp first… Cliche, Attenborough has got to be there, imagine the anecdotes and what he could tell you along the way!?
Louis Theroux, he’d just be a great person to chat with on the hike up and would be great for those thought provoking sunset questions over a whiskey, right?!
Maybe Rory Sutherland, I find his way of thinking so interesting so he’d be another great person to chat with!
I think you can tell I’m looking for the deep and meaningful chats here!
Snowy View or Golden Sunset? Gosh… thats real tough. But the photographer in me says Golden Sunset!
Go to Pastry order? The Kouign Amann from Farro Bakery in Bristol still appears in my dreams.
Film or Digital? Crikey, so many tough questions!! Film, it’s like Christmas shooting with film. The nostalgia, keeping you on your toes and not knowing what you’re going to get… But you can’t beat the colour and tones!
Dream hiking destination? The Dolomites, Washington State, The Faroe Island, The Azores and Yosemite are all on the agenda.

Friend Of The Blend - Vol. 4

Wild landscapes & outdoor adventure with emily barnard - (@exploringemily)

No cook campsite ketchup