Mi Vida Alpujarrena
Jane Moss (www.janemossphotography.com) is an accomplished photographer who lives in Nerja. Her work includes wedding, travel and portrait photography.
“I moved to Spain from Camden Town, London, in March 2009. I was meant to be staying for six months but I haven't quite made it back yet. Before moving here, I'd visited Nerja for family holidays and to see friends for a week or two. Over time, I built up a network of friends here and got to know the area well. It made sense to move somewhere that I knew and where I felt comfortable. Nerja is a beautiful town with a great sense of community.
“Before moving to Spain, I had always lived and worked in Camden, where I led a number of projects and groups within my community. This was an important element of my life and something I look forward to developing more here in Spain.
“I became interested in photography in 2003 and bought my first digital SLR camera the same year. I’ve showcased my photographs in a number of exhibitions, including an event commissioned by Getty Images. I spent my first year in Spain just taking in the scenery and building up my portfolio and now I’ve started to take commissions.
“My work mainly consists of portrait, weddings and property photography but my favourite
subject matter is landscape and documentary photography -
“Nerja provides fantastic opportunities for beautiful landscapes, as it’s situated on the coast but with the added benefit of the Sierra Nevada as an impressive background. Unfortunately, employment opportunities are at an all time low and competition is high so it's important to develop a style that makes you stand out from the crowd.
“Apart from the current economic climate in Spain, the main challenge I face as a local photographer is finding day to day inspiration. While in a busy city such as London, where I can take my camera out with me every day and be sure to find a good shot, it's a little more challenging in a small town like Nerja.
“Before I became a photographer, I spent 12 years working in London NHS hospitals, mainly in project management and most recently investigating serious incidents within a mental health setting. This is an area that I found fascinating and enjoyed considerably.
“I learnt to speak Spanish at night school in London and I speak it fairly well. I can certainly get my point across but find it more challenging to grasp the pace and variety of accents I come across. My friends in Nerja have helped me develop my knowledge of the language. I want to experience a different way of life and be a part of my community, so integrating with the Spanish is essential for me.
“My clients at present are mainly English but I’m working on developing stronger links with the Spanish community.
“I’ve visited the Alpujarras a couple of times and love the landscape and community there. It's a beautiful area with a fantastic history and wonderful architecture; it's almost like a secret little world. My favourite places to visit in La Alpujarras are Ferreriola and Bubion.
“The climate is an obvious reason for liking Andalucia so much but, in addition I love the community, the pace of life and the history of the area. I can't think of anything not to like about living in Andalucia apart from the current economic climate but that’s the same the world over, and I'd rather sit out the crisis here than in the UK.
“Andalucia will always feel like home to me.”
