"A photograph is possibly the purest statement of essences," Wardell says. "It's important not to be rigid, but to allow a process of discovery to take place." According to James Wardell, a good photo is a photo we can remember months later. The way it is constructed, presented makes it memorable. "It has to do with art and sharing something for a long time".

"You really have to revert to a child-like attitude about what you see; how interesting, how marvellous, how extraordinary! Life on earth is hell. There is just too much suffering, and it's non-stop. The only alleviation from the chaos of suffering lies in seeking harmony by finding the majesty and magic that make sense of life. I am a human being first and a photographer second. Being a photographer helps guide me through the human experience." In 2000 James co-founded Gracia Arts Project an artistic art integration NGO.