Capturing the beautiful details in nature

Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2019

Last summer, my husband and I went to Longwood Gardens in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Honestly, I don’t know why we don’t go there more often, because it is less than an hour from where we live! Hmmm…I think I am just now hatching a plan to visit again this summer—provided this coronavirus doesn’t keep us away. 
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Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked…

We decided to go there on a gorgeous summer day in August to see all the colorful and exotic flowers, creatively sculpted formal gardens, and equally stunning water fountains. It had been YEARS since I had been there, so I had forgotten how beautiful this place is! And I took my Canon DSLR camera…Man, am I glad I took my camera! Can you say eye candy?! 

This place is a dream for me. I love nature and the healing effect it has on me. Maybe that’s why I started an art and design business that is “nature-inspired”…

And I have a thing for photography as well. I’m still quite the amateur, but I’m getting better every day, motivated by the drive to capture the exquisite but often minuscule details in the flowers, trees, and plants around me. (If you haven’t seen my Instagram profile, you can find me at @disstudiodesigns.) I don’t know…something about the incredible variety of life and complexity of the details brings me alive. Hidden worlds are happening right under our noses and all around us. I say “hidden” because it’s only unseen. After all, we don’t take the time to see them. But they exist—and I’m trying to capture whatever I can with my handy dandy camera! Sometimes, that camera will be my iPhone, but whatever gets the job done, as they say. (And these iPhone cameras take AMAZING photos, by the way.)

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Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2019.

Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2019.

On this trip, I took my Canon DSLR and tried to take as many photos as possible of whatever beautiful gem called out to me. Vibrant colors, lush green plants, and dancing water were all around me, and I had to stop myself from spending hours in one spot. The day got hotter as the hours ticked by (this WAS August), but I had so much fun capturing the colors, patterns, and textures. Just look at the precious little tendrils in this plant below, curled inward like it’s hugging itself! I don’t even remember what type of plant this is, but I’m glad I found this tiny little plant nestled in the sea of green.

​(Update: I discovered that this exotic fern can be found in tropical places like Malaysia. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a decent website to share. I'll keep my eye open!)

Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2019.

I had two regrets, though…

The first one was that I didn’t have a tripod. I have notoriously shaky hands, so some shots were difficult for me. I powered through it and made do. On the next trip, I will need to pack my mini tripod. Many of the shots I struggled with were closer to the ground, and a mini tripod would have done wonders for my nerves! 

My second regret was not taking a longer lens. There was a point where we were watching the fountain displays from quite a distance back, and I tried to zoom in as much as possible with my standard lens, but I was so disappointed with the lack of sharpness in my shots, and I couldn’t zoom in enough to get something creative. So next time I need to take more kit...and choose a day with cooler weather!

But it was a relaxing yet invigorating day, and I enjoyed it immensely. Spending time in nature is healing and therapeutic, as is the sight and sound of water. I watched the shimmering water bounce and bubble and was instantly in my happy place!

Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2019.

Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2019.

So, for one glorious day and afternoon, I was in heaven! I need to find that sense of peace again…I need to immerse myself in nature and focus on something positive and something bigger than myself. I need to find those “hidden” worlds again and explore the tiny details that make up the natural world around us. I need to plan another trip…And—of course—I will take my camera along to capture as much as possible!


Related blog posts you may want to read:
Biophilia in Interior Design
Nature and well-being
Inspiration