Photography – Bobby Bense | Helen Janneson Bense

Model/Styling – Helen Janneson Bense

Location – North Beach, Western Australia

“Recognise the beauty that you are by immersing yourself in it”

First of all HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone and thanks for following along and being part of our tribe! We love you!

If you follow my instagram you’ll probably see a crazy amount of sunset imagery. Not only are sunsets beyond beautiful and so fun to take photos of, they provide me with the most ideal space and time to go within to my happy place. This is probably the most important reason I spend my days chasing sunsets. This particular one was simply breathtaking. The mood was so still with very little wind, with this incredibly iridescent turquoise water set against a candy coloured sky. There was lightning on the horizon and you could feel the tingling vibrations of a pending storm. Every cell in my body was alive. I felt like crying it was just so beautiful.

Most days you’ll find me spending quality time connecting with my family, immersed in the beauty of nature. It might be snorkelling in a turquoise lagoon, hiking beach cliffs, supping on a mountain lake, though more than often I’m simply watching the setting sun. There is nothing more enriching for me in this life than connection to myself, to my tribe, and to nature. We are one and the same. We spend so much of our time searching externally for comfort, to ease our pain and inner conflicts; trying to control the uncertainty of life whilst projecting our fears onto others. The more I observe and allow my feelings and thoughts to be, the more at ease I become. I find a sense of peace that brings more happiness into my life than any external pleasures and addictive behaviours possibly could. Putting myself in the presence of nature’s beauty provides me with an easier path to move deeper into this inner space. The place where I’m able to sit in the stillness and observe, and give my thoughts and feelings the acceptance they need. This is my meditative space where my inner state of peace bubbles into pure joy. This is my happy place. It’s when I’m connected to nature and realise I am nature. I feel as though I am the setting sun and the rising moon, and each wave that rolls in is like my precious breath that gives me life.

I hope you all have a happy place that brings you health, joy and connection. Wishing you all a wonderful, magic filled 2018!

With love and gratitude,

Helen xx

All text and images copyright © Helen Janneson Bense 2021