One of my greatest joys in photographing my subjects is capturing a perspective that most of us might miss or take for granted. Giving a new spotlight on the unnoticed can provide that slight edge in a composition that catches one's eye or turns a head. Take these five photographs of mine in situ: do you see what might typically go unseen?
"Alien" strikes a different pose than one might expect in room full of soft neutrals.
"Flow" adds an abstract feel that glistens off the wall.
"Butterfly" demands a closer look: what exactly are we looking at?
Who would expect a tryptique of... "Jellies"?
The ultimate edgy twist: memorializing a wilting bloom after its prime, as "Elder" does here.
Would you hang something unexpected in your home? Make a statement with the un-obvious.
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Big, bountiful peonies are a fleeting gift of spring. Only blooming for 7-10 days, you have to catch these beauties in late spring and appreciate them while they last. Perhaps it's their rarity that makes them so special and would assign meanings of love, honor, wealth, and happiness. And they've got a lovely scent to match their blooms -- much like the fragrance of a rose but sweeter and lighter. Catch these while you can!
As the official birth month flower of April, daisies are a perfect choice for the birth of a baby. Because of this association, daises are know to symbolize childhood innocence, simplicity, and joy. Their bright white, open structure with a sunny yellow center certainly lifts the soul!
Did you know... Gerbera Daisies claim the spot of the fifth most popular flower worldwide! Grown in a delightful variety of bold colors, they no doubt symbolize cheerfulness and loyal love. There is something about their solid stance upholding a spray of color pop atop that is unapologetically optimistic and effervescent.
The word itself comes from the Latin word for "first" as primroses are typically the first to bloom in early spring. A colorful reminder of rebirth out of the cold, dark, dreary winter months, primrose flowers are viewed as representing youth and young love. In Victorian times, a primrose given to another could even mean, "I can't live without you." Perhaps a touch dramatic but romantic nonetheless!
Tulips are also some of the first flowers of spring, and different colors carry different meanings. While yellow tulips signify sunny cheerfulness, pink tulips represent happiness and confidence, and red tulips represent love. Purple tulips signify royalty and white tulips represent forgiveness. Orange tulips symbolize a sense of understanding and appreciation. With such specific symbolism, be sure to look up the meaning of a tulip's color before gifting them!
Now that you know different meanings of different flowers (and colors), does it change what you would put in your home or on your walls? Or which piece you might gift to someone in your life?
You may have guessed when viewing my work that the spring season might be my favorite time to shoot. The vibrancy of nature is on full display come springtime, with flowers bursting and blooming just about anywhere you look.
It comes as no surprise that making it out to California to see a super bloom is on my photographer must-do-and-see list. Now that travel is more open than it has been for over two years, I decided to do a little digging as to where and when to find wildflowers across the Golden State. And although the drought conditions of this past winter will most likely not produce a super bloom (it's actually a fairly rare occurrence every 10-15 years), superb blooms nonetheless can be found from the North to South all along the state.
Just 75 miles north of Los Angeles, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve shows off dazzling displays of the state flower from mid-March to late April/May if conditions are right.
To the south, California's largest park, Anza-Borrego State Park, about 80 miles northeast of San Diego is a desert wildflower heaven with lilies, sunflowers, apricot mallow, aster, and verbena even in off-peak years in the canyon trails.
To the north, Lake Tahoe is a stunning landscape any time of year but especially as the winter snow melts and waters its mountain slopes, the hills come alive in white, yellow, blue, orange and red, from late April to June.
Check out Afar.com for more hotspots to hunt down the season's blooms and be sure to view my entire "Flower" series (as seen in Vanity Fair and House & Garden) to find your favorites for your home!
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It's no secret that humans have a thing for water: We'll pay more for a hotel with an ocean view. We can be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the ocean or rainfall. We can sit on a beach and watch waves for hours. We want to live by it, walk along it, get a good view of it, listen to it... there's something about water.
So what is it?
When you are near a body of water, it often means you have physically escaped the trappings of our tech-filled, overstimulated world to get a bit of peace of mind and soul. And taking a moment to listen to the sounds of water also means you are allowing yourself that moment to be in the present vs. the future or the past, which instantly alleviates anxiety on its own. Ironically, water helps ground us.
We know all this intrinsically. But recent studies seem to show that water has tremendous psychological and physiological effects on the human body. One such study found that when shown photographs of blue spaces, a person's stress levels drop. Another found that people who live near bodies of water lead healthier and happier lives.
Additional research shows that being near water helps us sleep more deeply too. Northwestern University found that the subjects who fell asleep listening to sounds like running water or rain falling not only slept more deeply but their memories were boosted as well.
Seeing, hearing, sleeping, watching – it's almost like our brains crave it. And is it any wonder? Our bodies are made of 60% water. Could it be that we feel a return to our sense of self when we can connect back to it?
A fascinating piece to all this is that we humans have an effect on water too. Dr. Masaru Emoto’s groundbreaking 2005 book, The Hidden Messages in Water details his experiments conducted on water molecules that show how human thoughts and intentions can physically alter the molecular structure of water.
I have heard the analogy that we are all connected to each other and all life on this planet is like the undulating ripples and rises and falls in the surface of the vast ocean. We may get our moments to shine, and yet, we cannot be separated. I like to think my photograph Copper shown at top demonstrates this, as we are blessed with a light being shone upon us time to time along our long journeys to shore. We are lifted up and get to sparkle for a moment, lifting others up too. I hope my work helps you feel that and remember that.
More: https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/why-being-near-water-really-does-make-us-happier
]]>With the explosive popularity of NFTs and the Crypto Art world, it may come as a surprise that "Nature-Inspired" art is listed as one of the top art trends for 2022. "While many 2022 art trends focus on technology, there's also a counter-trend for nature-focused artworks," Eden Gallery reports. "Nature has always been a popular theme in art as a form of escapism from the stress of modern city life. Artists seek reconnection with the natural world and offer audiences some much-needed escapism from the confines of their living rooms."
It makes sense, after two years of confinement that a new appreciation for the great outdoors would be reborn and brought into the home -- as Alex Liepman, founder and CEO of DROOL Art, tells The Zoe Report. She notes that blues like the hues of the sky on a sunny day will be big for 2022, especially when paired with lighter blues or sea green tones.
Also unsurprisingly, due to the same conditions of the past two years, people are looking for pieces that bring joy to their lives and spaces. Here we may see bright colors, pop art, and fun art that delight and uplift.
My nature-inspired selections to boost and brighten:
Top art trends for 2022:
What trends are you most interested in this year?
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When I shot these magical wonders for my "Jellies" series I was captivated by the slow-moving grace of their smooth sway, knowing full well that that is exactly how these sea nettle jellyfish capture their prey. Their long-laced trailing tentacles create a drifting net that sting and paralyze, moving their prisoners up to their mouths to be devoured. Deadly, beautiful...paralyzing.
It got me thinking about how the beauty in nature that can strike awe in us can also strike back. It is a naturally evolved ability; these species mesmerize with their come-hither camouflage. Here are six examples of nature's deadly beauty:
This teeny tiny sea slug measures in at only 3 cm but can be deadly because it feeds on hydrozoans like the poisonous Portuguese man o' war, and saves the venom in concentrated form. Not to worry, it will only strike out in defense if it feels threatened. But don't be fooled to think its beauty means it's benign.
One of the most endangered plants in the world, Autumn Crocus -- or "meadow saffron" or "naked ladies" -- is also one of the most poisonous. Its toxin has no antidote and can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, liver and kidney problems, blood disorders, nerve problems, shock, organ failure, and death. Definitely keep the kitties away from these killer blooms!
A bright multicolor exterior does not always equal a friendly interior. Despite its small stature, the blue-ringed octopus harbors enough toxic chemicals to kill 26 adult humans and is recognized as one of the most venomous marine animals in the world. The toxin in its bite can cause nausea, cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, paralysis, blindness, or death.
Walking beneath a wisteria-filled canopy may feel like a wistful dream. But the flowers that fall ever so gracefully from its branches are actually quite toxic. If any part of the plant is consumed, it can cause nausea, fever, and diarrhea. Good thing these tree tops are often high enough to be out of reach!
Due to how the female mantis hunts near flowers, her appearance has evolved to imitate pretty-in-pink orchid flowers, luring pollinating insects into getting just a little too close for comfort. But how incredible: their uncanny resemblance to pink and white orchids is truly a natural marvel.
Although popularly planted because of their fragrant flowers in common areas like schoolyards, the oleander is one of the most poisonous plants on earth. All parts of the shrub are toxic, including its leaves and branches. If digested it can result in severe digestive, nervous, and cardiovascular system shutdowns. Even a brush against one of its leaves can immediately irritate your skin.
Does this make you think differently about the nature of beauty?
Top image for purchase: Jellies I by Sarah Lee Art Photo
]]>Vincent Van Gogh, Irises, 1889
Did you know one of the most famous flower paintings known today was actually considered a ‘study’ by the Post-Impressionist artist himself? According to the Getty Museum – where it is currently on display – it was Van Gogh’s brother Theo who recognized its potential. And after seeing the piece it was French art critic Octave Mirbeau who was compelled to write, "How well he has understood the exquisite nature of flowers!" Ironically and tragically, Van Gogh painted it while at an asylum and a year before he ended his life. Yet his genius lives on to inspire us all. On display at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles
Gustav Klimt, Sunflower, 1906-1907
Before ‘The Kiss’ there was ‘The Sunflower’ – perhaps a prequel to Klimt’s most famous opulently gilded Art Nouveau-style portrait of a couple in embrace. Even though ‘The Sunflower’ is a representation of a single sunflower standing tall in all its glory within an abundant garden setting, it certainly contains human-like characteristics and a silhouette Klimt might later rekindle for ‘The Kiss.’ But if you are still not convinced a sunflower can have the power to rapture and romance, note that Klimt did once declare, “All art is erotic.” Private Collection
Claude Monet, Red Water Lilies, 1914-1919
Are there any more famous lilies than Monet’s water lilies? Painted by the grandmaster of the Impressionist art movement at his home in Giverny, France over his last declining years of age and sight, ‘Water Lilies’ is actually a series of over 250 paintings created within his carefully cultivated gardens. And although these masterpieces live on through museums all over the world including the Musée D’Orsay in Paris and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Monet himself declared, “My finest masterpiece is my garden.” At the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco
Georgia O’Keefe, Oriental Poppies, 1927
I have been told (and am enormously humbled) that my work reminds some of the inimitable Georgia O’Keefe’s groundbreaking, intimate portrayals of flowers up close and personal. A contemporary of American modern photographers like Ansel Adams, O’Keefe was able to bring a sensuality to her subjects not before seen and certainly not entirely captured by a camera just yet. She possessed an alluring ability to abstract a flower’s natural form while accentuating its vibrancy in full color. O’Keefe is quoted as saying, “I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it - I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers.” And so she has. Part of a collection at the University of Minnesota Art Museum
Andy Warhol, Flowers, 1964
Although Andy Warhol is best known for his Pop Art celebrity silkscreen portraits, his ‘Flowers’ series was a sharp departure that surprised many and continues to delight. Village Voice art critic David Bourdon wrote in 1964 that the flowers appear to be afloat, “like cut-out gouaches by Matisse set adrift on Monet’s lily pond.” But unlike the four previously mentioned works above, this series was not created directly from an interaction with nature; Warhol instead used a photograph of hibiscus blossoms he found in a 1964 issue of Modern Photography to create the silkscreen prints (and was later sued by the original photographer Patricia Caulfield). Private Collections and at the MoMA New York
But all in all, as with each of these examples, Warhol says it best of this one: “My fascination with letting images repeat and repeat… manifests my belief that we spend much of our lives seeing without observing.”
It is my hope that you will see and observe, from now on.
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Roses, particularly white roses, are a popular winter flower because they bring year-round beauty, and with proper tending in your garden, can survive harsh winter conditions. There is something about a white rose that visually represents 'eternity' and 'purity' like the cleansing away and rebirth that occurs this season.
Calla lilies, with their elegant white trumpeted form, are another popular winter flower often in winter weddings. Understated, they symbolize a sophistication and strength in this darkest time of the year. Their inward curling form to me represents a sense of reflection and inner peace as we all naturally pause this season.
Lilies come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes and generally symbolize fresh life and rebirth. While yellow lilies represent playfulness and are perfect for summer sun, a red lily stands for love, an orange for warmth, and pink for joy. Aren't they all sentiments you'd like to conjure up any time of year?
Like a long awaited return, phalaenopsis orchids generally bloom in the winter or very early spring. They make for the perfect winter bloom as they are one of the longest blooming in the orchid family with flowers that last two to six months. Historically, because they are exotic and require a certain level of care, they are highly coveted and represent luxury and grace.
Gerbera daisies may seem like a surprising winter flower because of their bright sun-shiny shades, but that's exactly what makes them so popular during the cold, drab dreary winter months. They're also particularly hardy, and cut stems can last in a vase of water for weeks. Look to these blooms as inspiration to shine the brightest in any room.
What are your favorite flowers in winter? What do they represent for you?
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This has been a dream in the making for years...
Back when my daughter was little, I suggested that she look up, with intention, at least once a day. I do this and believe humanity would be happier if everyone did. On walks and mom-daughter trips, I taught my daughter to really see the flowers and the landscapes. Now, all grown up, we do this together and it is just one of a million bonds we share.
I attempt to capture images with my camera that make others also look up, with intention to see the flowers and landscape. I don’t really set out to photograph a specific subject, but I am always drawn to calm scenes in nature: blooms, sunsets, coastlines, patterns in our natural world. I consider it a gift and a blessing that I see the beauty in God’s creations, without difficulty.
But sadly, too many plow through weeks without ever noticing the beauty around them—they miss out on free joy!
After several successful years of art shows and selling to collectors, I wanted to rebrand and capture the warmth and intimacy inherent in my work in order to share more widely the joy, calm, and beauty of God’s world in a way that is unique to each person, just as every flower, every sunset, every wave is truly one of a kind. I knew of, and admired, the extraordinary brand strategist and designer, Erika Brechtel, and was thrilled when she agreed to assist me. We worked on a design that expresses who I am as a photographer and artist, and the values that matter to me as a person. I’m overjoyed with the result and hope the rebranding affords those who view my work a glimpse of who I am, and why I am so passionate about sharing the beauty of nature with others through my images and also, my words.
I hope my brand encourages others to look up, look around them, see the good, the calm, the beautiful. It is everywhere!
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I recently came across this TED Talk by author and designer Ingrid Fetell Lee on what brings people joy. I was struck by her observations that much of our vibrantly colorful visual world around us has the potential to bring instant joy to us (like rainbows, sprinkles, and confetti), yet so many of the environments we construct and choose to work and live our lives within are colorless, personality-less... joyless.
What about you, do you agree, should we insert more color and vibrancy into our physical environments? It's certainly what I believe and what drives my work, and why a large part of my mission is to work with nursing homes and corporate environments -- I work to make our daily lives more enjoyable.
Please enjoy the expansion of her observations and conclusions in "Where Joy Hides and How to Find It" via TED Talks.
Check out her website with a ton of resources on cultivating joy. And I'd love to read more in her book, Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness .
Thank you Ingrid Fetell Lee for your important work on the Aesthetics of Joy!
Confetti image credit: https://shop.ohhappyday.com/products/best-confetti-ever
]]>I have always believed in the healing power of water, long before I discovered Dr. Masaru Emoto’s groundbreaking 2005 book, The Hidden Messages in Water.
In his book, Dr. Emoto details his experiments conducted on water molecules that show how human thoughts and intentions can physically alter the molecular structure of water. Using high-speed photography, Dr. Emoto discovered that crystals formed in frozen water reveal significant differences in form and color when concentrated thoughts are directed toward them. He found that water exposed to positive words displayed bright, complex, and organized snowflake patterns. In contrast, water exposed to negative thoughts displayed incomplete and disorganized forms in dull colors.
Additionally, a 2006 study conducted by the Institute of Noetic Sciences based on Dr. Emoto's work found that water “treated” with intention can affect ice crystals formed from that water. 1
Just think: if 60% of the human body is water, how might we be able to affect not only ourselves but each other through positive thoughts and words?
In my Abstract Series, I attempt to capture the wonder and peace that water brings to us in its many forms: the calming flow of it gently caressing stones in quiet riverbeds, the sparkle of sunlight and moonlight-accented ripples across a vast ocean, the awesome power of rhythmic waves falling into the shore.
There are perhaps no greater comforts of nature than the myriad combinations of water and light. They are a reminder of God’s power so eloquently expressed by the psalmist in Psalm 42:7:
“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.”; simple swells in a pool, glittering in a morning sunrise; the romance inherent in the sinking sun as it falls into the wet horizon on a lake….
My Abstract Series showcase these reminders, and I hope and pray they bring serenity and solace to all who see them.
Top image: Endurance by Sarah Lee Gossett Parish.
Buy it here https://sarahleeartphoto.com/products/endurance
1 "Double-blind test of the effects of distant intention on water crystal formation" Petaluma, CA and Tokyo, Japan.
]]>The No.1 reason I photograph our natural world all around us is simply: it brings happiness to those who get to experience my work.
We all intrinsically know that being outdoors makes us all happier in general. Even so, seeing these stats on the impact nature has on our well-being still brought a smile to my face:
How to make yourself happier in one simple step? Get out in nature.
Here are a few ways you can incorporate getting nature into your schedule, and the compelling reasons why:
It is my hope that my work is also a conduit to nature’s healing for those who may not have the ability or mobility to get physically into nature itself. Even accessing the parts of your brain that contain fond memories and associations with the beauty in nature can activate happiness within us!
Top image: "Calm" by Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish
Buy here https://sarahleeartphoto.com/products/calm
Source: https://www.happify.com/hd/nature-makes-us-happier-infographic/
]]>The work of Henri Matisse, groundbreaking for its time, paved the way for distilling nature into its most elemental forms. When I first saw one of his famous cutouts, I was astounded by the evolution of his work throughout his career.
Starting in the Impressionist style in the late 19th century he made his name on the Parisian art scene with bold and bright paintings, eventually transforming his craft in the early 20th century because he had to: diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1941 at the age of 71, Matisse was prevented from painting. During his illness he began to cut shapes out of paper painted in bright colors, pinning them to walls in his homes in the south of France. He described the creative process like “painting with scissors” -- rather than painting onto a canvas, he was instead “cutting in.”
As with his bright and bold paintings, his cut-outs make viewers feel exuberant, alive, and joyful, just as he intended. Of this final chapter of his career, he said, “Only what I created after the illness constitutes my real self. Free, liberated.”
Hailed as one of the modern masters, Matisse created his art throughout his life to celebrate life, to have a life of its own, and to make life better. And for that, I am grateful and inspired.
The Lagoon, 1943
White Alga on Orange and Red Background, 1947
Vegetables, 1951
The Parakeet and the Mermaid, 1952
Acanthes, 1953
La Gerbe, 1953
Danseuse Creole, 1954
Fleurs de Neige, 1958
The art of the gallery wall... my tips for creating a gallery wall you'll love.
]]>It doesn't take a designer to plan out the art in your home for you. While one large focal point is always a winner, if you'd like to cultivate that collected feel, a grouping of prints is a fun solution. It allows you to swap pieces out as you like, and the arrangement becomes more flexible for different rooms or houses in the future. If you're not sure where to start, here are a few golden rules to follow:
To avoid your wall looking cluttered and unorganized, you can unify the pieces together with a color theme.
Shop the prints: A. Pink Hues / B. Shine / C. Harmony / D. Sway / E. Chaos
Even if you only have a few in your formula, you can mix and match size and orientation to create an interesting arrangement.
Shop the prints: A. Alien / B. Calm / C. Copper
This is definitely one of those decorator tricks to try! The balance comes from the heaviness of weight and height in the center, getting lighter and leaner on the edges. It still creates a sense of oneness despite the many parts.
Shop the prints: A. Volcano / B. Dreams II / C. Bloom / D. Peony / E. Shy / F. Glam / G. Magma
But most of all, have fun with it! YOU should love it.
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I’ve been a fan of Gray Malin from the time he was selling his work from a tent at an LA Farmer’s Market. It’s been thrilling for me to see how his career has evolved and soared since those early days. From books and products and collaborations to multiple collections, he continues to inspire me as a photographer.
But Gray is also a master of taking his art and turning it into a brand. He’s a genius at marketing himself and I admire how he has diligently worked to get his photography into decor shops, blogs, publications -- and ultimately, into homes across the world.
His success should not just be attributed to the creative ways in which he captures nature -- most famously while perilously hanging out of a helicopter for his stunning aerial beach photos. Much credit must be given to how he continues to develop creative ways to repurpose his photography for home goods and products. Check out the many products and collaborations below, and tell me, what products would you want to see from my prints?
For a kids & baby collection with Cloth & Co, his art is taken even further through the creation of the most adorable textile prints inspired by his Parker Palm Springs photography collection.
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Sometimes I get inspired in the moment. Sometimes I wander into nature and look for inspiration. And sometimes, I get a spark of inspiration to create a compilation.
This was one of those moments for me. It was a hot, humid summer with the family and it seemed natural to me that I would gravitate towards wanting to capture the refreshment of cool, clear water.
My love of water started before I could walk. Living with a lake behind my childhood home, Mom and I frequently played “down at the beach," complete with spontaneous picnics. Whether it is a swimming pool, lake, river, or ocean, there is just no substitute for the calming influence of water in my life. And I’ve found that most people share this feeling. That’s not to say water can’t be stormy sometimes, and I love the power behind sets of waves that scatter even the most talented surfers.
But then, we all know that water, like people, has many faces. My “Wet” Collection captures them.
Shop the series here: https://sarahleeartphoto.com/collections/wet
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Shot against a dark background, the vivid palettes spring forth from your screen like bursts of color and light, each bloom both delicate and individually powerful. I particularly love the variations of texture and volume she mixes in that create depth and visual interest.
Since spring has ended she has been closing out her amazing tulip arrangements, and I am excited to see what florals she’ll continue to bring in for summer!
See more of her creations at instagram.com/cakeatelieramsterdam !
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Of course I knew this, and it’s at the core of why I do art photography: by sharing my photos of nature I hope to spread joy.
But if we’re going to get technical about it… a recent study has uncovered evidence that nature really does make us happy. The study provides global evidence of the “biophilia hypothesis” — the theory that humans have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature.
Conducted by the National University of Singapore, a team used AI to analyze over 30,000 photos on social media. They found that certain hashtags considered “happy” and “relaxed” such as #vacations or #fun were more likely to contain elements of nature.
Additionally, they found that those photos tagged #fun tended to be taken in countries that are more highly ranked in the World Happiness Report of 2019.
Don’t you love that? When we’re happy and we know it, we show nature.
Source:
https://thenextweb.com/neural/2020/03/10/ai-studies-our-photos-to-prove-that-nature-makes-us-happy/
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