Moments Seen, Spirit Felt
Each photograph may begin with the science of light, yet it unfolds into the practice of presence—especially in the tender spaces of illness, end-of-life, grief, and loss. It is here that seeing becomes a way of being with what is, and a way of honoring what is passing, changing, or quietly enduring.
My name is Melissa Blythe Knowles. I am a photographer, curator, and teacher whose work brings together creativity, holistic health, and spirituality. My work is rooted in the understanding that arts and story are forms of spiritual participation—ways we stay in relationship with ourselves, one another, and something larger than us, especially in times of uncertainty and sorrow.
Through photography and storytelling, as well as fine art prints, publications, workshops, and exhibitions, I attend to what lies beyond the immediately visible—those moments, movements, and spaces that remind us there is always more to the world than what we see.
Photography, for me, is a way of working at the threshold between the visible and the unseen. Like a cave painting, each image begins in the dark—formed slowly, through attention and care. In this space, imagination, memory, and spirit meet, inviting us to look more closely at what we are living through, and to find meaning in even the most fragile moments.
My Story
My life and work have been shaped by the people I love and learn from—most especially Geordie Gude, my life partner and best friend, who died in 2024. Grief arrives for me as both relational and moving, to soften the weight of loss—it flows like energy, yet it also takes energy to experience and move with it. It has its own language, calling attention to the full spectrum of our being—mind, body, soul —and to how our spirit reaches toward connection beyond what is physically present.
Geordie, a musician and deeply perceptive soul, understood what it meant to fully enfold another person in his heart. His music flowed from this place within him, shaping what he felt into something we could hear.
He was that rare gift in my life, and we were both blessed with the time we had to shape love and healing into a beautiful life together. At the threshold of life and death, Geordie was curious about what was yet to come, and we both understood our relationship was not ending, but changing in ways mysterious to us both.
Whether behind the camera, in front of it, or returning to images later, each moment holds a quiet sacredness—through it, for me in this season of my life, comes the understanding that grief is both the physical aching of separation and the apprenticeship in what love looks like from the spirit side of life.
My late mentor, John Diamond, described photography as the art of seeing “beyond the obvious.” He showed that therapeutic engagement in photography, like healing and human relationships, asks us to move past surface observation—inviting us to notice what at first may be imperceptible to the human eye but present and active nonetheless.
Portfolio
*Much of my portraiture unfolds in close collaboration with individuals, families, and nonprofits, always with deep respect for privacy and trust.
Look . Listen . Engage
* I design each offering uniquely; please reach out to me directly for a tailored quote.
Family Stories
Family Stories are relaxed and natural—nothing stiff or performative—so you can simply be together. These sessions gently honor the love, connection, and presence that shape a family’s life in this moment.
For many families, photographs become even more meaningful with time. They hold the laughter, tenderness, and everyday gestures that later become cherished memories.
Alongside digital galleries, I create hand-made fine art prints in my studio, crafted slowly and intentionally so that your family’s story can be returned to again and again—held as a living archive of love.
Everyday Magic
Just me, my camera, and the ordinary moments that make up life. I pay attention to how it feels to move through the day—the small gestures, quiet details, and fleeting moments that might go unnoticed.
My work celebrates the rhythm of daily life, the gentle humor, tenderness, and surprises that appear when we slow down and really look. Even the simplest moments can hold a quiet magic if we take the time to notice.
Remembrance
After Geordie died, I turned to my photo archives, letting the images bring him—and the feeling of us—closer. Through photographing him, I learned not just the craft of portraiture, but the practice of truly seeing—and being seen.
Each print opened a window into our love: grief was present, but so was joy—the delight in his eyes, the mischief in his smile, the way I saw myself through him. I now offer that same connection to others through Remembrance sessions, creating lasting portraits for families experiencing illness, hospice, and grief.
Messages of Light
Sometimes grief can feel as if the world has dimmed around us. In those moments, even the smallest light can matter. I found a kind of shelter in photographing outdoors, where beauty was always waiting—patterns in a shoreline, light through the trees, the quiet presence of the natural world. These moments became devotional rituals, and continue to be, part of my healing, even when at times I feel broken.
Messages of Light pairs hand-printed fine art photographs with reflections on grief, remembrance, and the quiet ways light returns. Delivered to your doorstep, with monthly, quarterly, and annual subscriptions available.
Anima Press
Anima Press—my fine art print and publishing imprint, named for the soul, the life force that animates all things—creates prints, exhibitions, and booklets to integrate image and word. At its heart, each project is about creating spaces where presence can be felt, not only remembered.
For me, these spaces first took form at home—memory boxes, photo albums, letters to Geordie, or curated CDs of his music—and then unfolded in the company of friends and loved ones through shared stories and reflection. As a curator, I realized I was shaping the very kind of spaces I had always longed for—places that serve as meeting points between the physical and spirit.
Camera Library
The Camera Library creates accessible pathways into photography for people of all ages and backgrounds. By offering free access to cameras, lenses, and essential accessories, it removes financial barriers and opens the door to creative exploration.
For many participants—especially those navigating grief—photography becomes a gentle way to reconnect with the world. Borrowing equipment allows individuals to practice noticing what they feel drawn to examine, at their own pace and in their own time, with the option of individualized mentorship.
Spirit Photography
Coming Soon! In teaching Spirit Photography, I hold the history with care and honesty. Early spirit photography included both sincere belief and deliberate construction—images shaped through techniques like double exposure, often presented as evidence of the unseen.
Rather than dismissing or defending this, I am interested in what it reveals: a deep human longing to remain in relationship with those who have passed, and a desire to give form to what cannot be easily seen or understood.
In this workshop, photography is not about proving spirit—it is about exploring our relationship with it. By reclaiming these historic techniques as creative tools, we honor that longing and use it to notice presence, memory, and connection in new, thoughtful ways.
Unseen / Seen
Unseen / Seen workshops invite participants to slow down, look closely, and cultivate curiosity about the world around them—camera in hand.
Through guided walks in nature and creative techniques—such as selective focus, intentional camera movement, double exposure, and macro photography—the camera becomes a tool for noticing what might otherwise go unseen.
No prior experience is required, and cameras are provided.
Offered to schools, healthcare, and nonprofits, Unseen / Seen provides a space for reflection, creativity, and connection—and, in times of change, illness, or grief, a gentle way to move at a different pace.
The Spirit Archive
The Spirit Archive is an exploration of life, memory, and the unseen. Participants are invited to bring their own stories of love, loss, and spiritual experience, engaging them alongside the pioneering collections of spiritualist researchers, artists, and writers. Through co-creating these living archives, we illuminate how the practices of those who came before us reveal connections between the physical and the spiritual.
Photography, mixed media, and creative exercises transform both personal and archival narratives into visual and experiential expressions. Exhibitions bring these works together—blending historical materials with participants’ creations—to spark dialogue between past and present, seen and unseen, and to honor the ongoing threads of memory, spirit, and presence.
Reach Out
Reach out to me for more information on my offerings or to book a session. I am here to answer any questions you may have.
Moments Seen, Spirit Felt, a monthly newsletter is coming soon! Together, we'll explore the ways creativity opens us to living a more connected life. Each letter offers reflections, practices, and insights to notice beauty, connection, and presence—even in difficult times.
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