Life on Jura

I documented family life on the remote Isle of Jura in Scotland's Inner Hebrides. It offered a fascinating glimpse into an alternative lifestyle that I truly admire, despite its challenges. My old friend Hugh had left the corporate world in London 15 years ago to build a new life on this secluded island. He renovated a tiny, rundown cottage that had been in his family for generations, doing the work himself despite the lack of electricity, running water, and  Wi-Fi. While undoubtedly tough at times, this life offered an enormous sense of freedom and independence. Years later, Hugh met Jane is now wife. She too was captivated by the simple island life and decided to stay. Together, they had two children, Grace and Luis, who embodied the spirit of this liberated existence. I followed this family's daily routines, witnessing intimate moments of their lives. The children and dogs roamed freely in this haven, with just one school, pub, and shop serving the community. The ferry service was often disrupted by bad weather, keeping them delightfully isolated in their self-sufficient world. Jane foraged for extras that the tiny store couldn't provide, fully embracing the simplicity of island living. The children, in particular, were so uninhibited in front of my camera, allowing me to capture the essence of their rare, unfettered childhood – a sense of freedom I found intriguing and wanted to document. I felt warmly welcomed, reminded of humanity's kindest qualities, as I observed this family thriving in their secluded paradise, liberated from the constraints of modern life.