Design By Nature

Truly we all are impacted by the surroundings of nature. Opportunity to learn from nature and use it in our daily living is so simply attainable, we just have to take the moment to capture and experience it. For me there are 2 times of the day I favor for viewing what Nature does all on its own. Sunrise and Sunset. The effect they have on what we view is always a reward, changing from minute to minute. You can experience the view from the grandest perspective or from a detailed perspective and the reward is just as great for each. Take a roadside view you perhaps travel each day. How different it will appear during different times of the day. The shadows, the movement, the color, the outline. I took a few photos that I just 'had' to stop and capture during sunset on my way home from a routine drive. The difference this time that made me stop was the combination of the time of day and weather. The day had been one of a 'misty rain' which I think provided the lovely low rolling foggy looking mist in the photo. That combined with the time of day as an image that is now captured and stored in my humble human memory.

On most trips past the view of the tall grasses, I probably never took much notice. But this time they compelled me Stop! Get out of the vehicle! and Take a picture! As the passing cars 'whizzed' past me I thought, they don't know what they are missing, or surely they would have at least slowed down along this stretch of the road.

To me the view offered connections with thoughts and feelings of  peace, rest, silence, a slow dance, a lullaby song. The large island in the distance provided the backdrop for the display up front. Sort of like the curtain on stage does for the performance front and center.

There is a look of slight 'order' to it all. The trees all clumped together on the island beyond, the small shrubs dotting the area like focal points to a garden and  the grasses like a carpet surrounding it all. I suppose that describes best how I interpret Nature's Design to apply to my own designs. I'm always wondering how can I apply that beautiful scene on a different scale, using different plants or ornaments. Sure we can all pop open a book and follow the designs of  folks famous for their work, or even use snippets from a favorite magazine, but for me there's not enough 'connection' doing that. I enjoy the process and reward of noting Nature's Design and taking that connection and applying to a design I can call my own.  Well sortof, I did after all borrow some of the idea from perhaps the best designer on the planet, Nature.

So on your next trip out along the beaten path, take a second look, you may discover something that has been there all along waiting for you to capture and experience. Here's a final image of my discovery on this sunset evening drive home.