Rooted in a belief that “there is that of God in everyone,” Quaker philosophy extends this reverence beyond humans to encompass all of creation. Nature is seen as a profound teacher—showing us simplicity, resilience, and interconnectedness. In a society obsessed with materialism and consumption, Quaker practice challenges us to see that true wealth lies in the natural world and our spiritual relationship. Meeting in silent worship, we strive to listen deeply—not only to our inner Light but to the rhythms of nature, which echo spiritual truths about harmony, humility, and stewardship. These beliefs demand action. From early advocacy for environmental justice to a commitment to sustainable living, Quakers seek to protect the Earth not out of duty but out of love for its sacredness. This philosophy asks us all: if we believe in peace, equality, and integrity, how can we ignore our relationship with the environment? In honouring nature, Quakers honour the divine, finding profound inspiration to act with care and compassion toward all living beings.
Simon Hawtrey-Woore
‘Newfoundlands’ is a new photography book by Daniel Tchetchick, which documents his experiences in the Poconos, an area of forested peaks, lakes, and valleys in Pennsylvania. The result is a rich visual experience which emphasizes the extra-temporal power of nature as the sublime. Using film photography, and printed in dutone with a silver pantone, the finished book will work to both disorient, and calm.
We are living in a fever pitch of very fast digital saturation, a hostile contemporary environment that Tchetchik is responding too, in region which has a rich Quaker tradition. Buck Hill Falls was founded in 1901 by Quakers who recognized its idyllic natural environment as an ideal setting for spiritual practice. In more recent years, Buck Hillers have continued this tradition, gathering for worship in the beautiful outdoor spaces the community provides. Today, only a few Quakers reside at Buck Hill. Still, their philosophy radiates profoundly across this stretch of land.
Founded in mid-17th-century England by George Fox, the Quaker movement arose as a “radical” challenge to established church traditions, emphasizing a direct, personal experience of God (the “Inner Light”) rather than relying on clergy or elaborate rituals. Tchetchik spent weeks, during winter and summer, wandering the area with his camera, searching for secret staircases and hidden paths within the landscape, the camera a means to decipher hidden moments: lost light, invisible movements and new gateways to the past, present, and future – all held within the timeless frame of nature. The work becomes a meditative passage, a road leading back home. The images journey into realms of dreams and states of the old world, recalling simpler times when humanity lived in harmony with nature.
As he states, “The land of Buckhill is unknown to me, but oh so very familiar. From fairy tales and childhood memories, these woods and streams are etched in the past. In my conscious and subconscious, I venture deeper into these lands to find more of who I am, who we are and what we are transforming into as a society. Having grown up in the New England Landscape, I feel this climate and the surrounding have shaped a profound part of my identity. Snow days, family trips, long sleepless nights spent watching snow fall slowly beneath an old streetlight, summers filled with warmth and the shifting colours of Fall. “
‘Newfoundlands’ aspires to present a central axis through which to view our transforming world – an attempt to create a safe haven amid the storm that surrounds us.
Pre-order is available now.
