At MIIMU, we believe adornment extends beyond jewellery — it lives in the way we see, create, and move through the world. Each month, our Artist in Focus series celebrates a creative whose vision inspires us to live more slowly, more mindfully, and more beautifully.
This month, we turn our gaze to Byron Bay based artist, photographer and father Ben Rayner, or @raynjermain on Instagram. We sat down and asked him five questions to understand more about his values and process. 
1. Can you share what first drew you to photography?
What first drew me to photography was through a family friend, Paul Whitehead . Our families would go on camping journeys and my father’s friend Paul would rise early before sunrise to capture unique landscapes we travelled to. Feeling his excitement and inspiration for nature definitely sparked a new passion in me from an early age.
2. Is there a ritual or practice you turn to before you create?
Yes a mixture of meditation, visualisation and connecting to the landscape I am working through prayer and acknowledgement. If I feel like I need it at times, I will also use a mantra to keep me grounded.
3. Your images are both visually striking and deeply evocative. How do you weave together beauty and storytelling in your work?
Thank you for seeing and feeling them. I feel like it has come fairly naturally to me. For my personal work I truly feel like nature has so much beauty and story weaved into its being already. So I feel like I’m an extension of nature honouring itself through photography. For my commercial work I still create in this basis, whilst allowing the model to feel comfortable to express their natural self. I sometimes help guide them to express natural emotion or movement so that when a viewer sees the photo, memory or inspiration is enlightened in the viewer so they can connect with themselves or nature deeper.
4.How does light speak to you in your work?
Light speaks to me through energizing and enhancing our existence. It’s the golden ratio balanced with shadow for photography.
5. What are 5 songs that inspire you these days ?
- Right, Right, Right - Nils Frahm
- This morning - Clinton Fearon
- Unlocking the door of Eternity - Ape Chimba
- London Luanda Pt.1 - Ze Da Lua Ulungu Wami Remix - Busy Twist
- Wind Sailor - Obongjayar
To see more of Ben’s beautiful photography, see his website or instagram page.
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