Meet Up & Photowalk: Capturing Magic at Newbourne Springs

Daniel Ian
Jun 4
2 min read

Where has the time gone?! Illuminate Studio has officially turned four! Looking back to where we started, it's so amazing to see how this incredible community of creatives has grown bigger and bigger.

Along with this milestone, we marked the return of our photowalks for 2026. We decided to take a trip down memory lane and return right to where it all began: Newbourne Springs in Suffolk.

This place was the backdrop for the very first photowalk we ever hosted, where just four of us came together. Returning four years later felt like a true homecoming.

As many who know our previous photowalks will remember, there is usually a theme to consider when setting out with our cameras. This time, we decided to explore the mystical realm of fairytales and whimsy. Newbourne has a certain quiet magic to it, so it felt like the perfect setting for this theme.

Despite some initial rain prior to the start of the walk, the sun arrived just as we met. allowing the woods and pathways to turn into magic. The sun was low, and most photographers wanted to use this to create an ethereal feeling in their images. People explored hidden nooks, chased that dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, and captured moments that felt straight out of a fairytale. There was a real sense of community in the air as everyone caught up, shared ideas, and, as with many of our themes, pushed their creative boundaries to photograph different to their usual.

One of the most beautiful things about the Illuminate community is the sheer diversity in how we create. There is always a great mix of both film and digital photographers working side-by-side. Some use just their mobile phones, and others simply come along for a walk and a catch-up.

To everyone who made it out to Newbourne, and to every single person who has supported Illuminate Studio over the last four years, we can't thank you enough! Whether you’ve been with us since that very first walk or 2026 was your first time picking up a camera with us, you are what makes this community what it is today.

Check out some of our images below!

Our next photowalk is at Christchurch Park, Ipswich, on the 16th June. Fancy coming along? RSVP here!