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There was something magical about seeing the world's perspective from above the sky. Recently, I had the gift of visiting a little town, a small village, in the Volta Region of Ghana, and I had the opportunity to climb a mountain there. The view from the place was extraordinary – and I was able to capture photographs of the extraordinary vista that cannot hardly be captured in words.

As I gazed from the mountaintop, I was awestruck by the view. Below me, I found myself amongst the vegetation; there was the little town – merging human development and the green vegetation together seamlessly. The structures were embedded into the hillside as if to imply that the physical environment created it. A wonderful and humbling reminder to all – when development sits alongside respect for the land, it could become symbiotic for both people and nature.

According to my perspective, I was encircled in green – rich, lush, and healthy green vegetation; it was everywhere. This vegetation was no mere backdrop to the community of people but the physical system of the community – it was the community's lifeforce. I could see natural and cultivated trees, bushes, and arable land from my position - they each contributed to energy that only natural metrics could provide. In this environment, fresh air is no longer a luxury; it is a daily gift.

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I do not think the land would have looked any better for farming than it did when I was on top of the mountain. The lush green was not for decoration – it was an absolute necessity. The green vegetation of the land resembled the gentle rhythm of the earth from above: the growth, the harvest and the cycle of life between people, the land and nourishment. It is not surprising that communities in the region thrive from resources – recognising and activating what rests below their feet.

Looking at the view from this space of beauty and serenity, I reflected upon how incredibly fortunate this region is. The Volta region remains undiscovered. It is rich beyond measure in natural gifts; it is the people and lands and the landscapes which should be seen, experienced, celebrated, and most importantly, protected.

Standing on a mountain peak with a camera at my side, I reflected upon how fortunate I always feel to discover places like this – that can slow you down, awaken your senses, and remind you that sometimes the most powerful views in life can be found not on screens or stages, but in time spent in a place where you only have to be still enough to notice them.

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