For any bookworm in the world, e-books never suffice. Though they are highly convenient, e-books simply do not give us the pleasure or that intriguing feeling that provokes our imagination in more ways than one. It is however, the actual physical form of a book, the feeling of the papers at the tip of our fingers along with the book's content, that allows us to travel to worlds beyond ours. It allows us to experience things we never did before.
Within the walls of our homes or the stifling traffic within our cities, we often neglect to expose ourselves to nature. That, combined with today's high-paced lives we lead, eats away at our very souls and we end up losing touch with nature, the curiosity about the animal kingdom and eventually, our spiritually.
Mohamed El Berry, an Egyptian photographer, took his love for nature and passion for photography to the next level. El Berry has launched a crowdfunding campaign to sponsor his nature photography book. The book, "Admiring Nature," is a simple and yet significant approach to show people what it's like to be surrounded by nature.
"Nowadays, people rarely take the time to get away from the chaotic life in the cities they live in," El Berry told StepFeed. "Nature is all about peace, simplicity, and happiness," he explained before adding that in nature, " you are to witness primitive forms of life that live in harmony with one another. Something as small as a pond is a source of infinite entertainment to an animal."
"You don't have to own a flashy car and an expensive house in nature. You can just be."
El Berry's love for photography started at a very young age.
"It all started when my dad gave me a camera for my 8th birthday. The camera, which I still have today and look at it as a timeless piece of art, stirred something within in me," he explained. "I started taking pictures of my childhood, my parents, and the everyday life of a child basically."
"Like any hobby, I had to further develop and enhance my abilities" El Berry said. "Other than the time I was off to college, a camera was always close by."
Following his college graduation, El Berry's interest in photography was rekindled.
"I bought multiple books and a variety of cameras to enhance my abilities in my favorite hobby. Everything I know about professional photography is self taught," he expressed, adding that "through trial and error, a person develops."
While El Berry still appreciates urban photography, it is capturing moments within nature that resides deep within him: "Like everyone else, I was too busy with life, technology, and keeping up with today's modern world. It wasn't until my first contact with nature that I knew what I was missing out on."
"The very first time I felt truly happy and at peace was the first time I allowed myself to put the city behind me and walk through the wilderness," El Berry noted.
"Yes, the animal kingdom can be quite dangerous. It is my opinion however, that the primitive life in the wilderness beats the lives we lead today" he said. "It is safer to live out there than to live within modern society."
The 29-year-old photographer hopes to send out one clear message to the world with "Admiring Nature."
"I just want people to allow themselves to reconnect with nature" El Berry stated. "Once you're surrounded by nothing but nature, you'll see nothing but serenity, tranquility, and happiness."
El Berry also hopes to inspire a new generation of photographers.
"One photo can mean a thousand things. However, to capture that one perfect shot, you must be patient," he said. "Don't lost your patience and don't lost that shot because the perfect shot is very hard to come by.