April 15, 2026 | Sharita Forrest
A study on nature-based videography took this Recreation, Sport and Tourism doctoral student to parks and forest preserves in Florida
New research led by a scholar at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests that watching and creating videography of scenic locations cultivates nature-based mindfulness — conveying the same cognitive and emotional benefits as outdoor activities and fostering a deep sense of connection with nature.
Yue (Darcy) Lu, an Illinois doctoral student in Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the College of Applied Health Sciences, conducted a two-phase study that began with an ethnographic exploration of her experiences with mindfulness while she was recording audio and video of scenic destinations in Florida for another project.
Lu text-mined more than 3,000 reviews — which included videography of cherry blossoms and forest bathing in Japan, a live wildlife safari in South Africa and a sunset hike with a geologist in Thailand — to explore whether immersive digital experiences offered the same benefits as physical engagement with nature.
Read the full story online by Illinois News Bureau research editor Sharita Forrest.
Editor’s note:
To reach Yue (Darcy) Lu, email yuel12@illinois.edu
The paper “Videography-facilitated nature-based mindfulness at natural destinations” is available online.
DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2026.2614551
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