For my final project, I’ve been brainstorming a number of ideas though the theme that I want to focus on is the beauty of nature and exploring the outdoors. Nature is really what got me into photography in the first place because instead of trying so hard to find a subject to shoot, I would turn to nature as my canvas. Ever since my grandmother gifted me my very first junior camera when I was a young kid, she would tell me I had an eye for detail and always encouraged me to pursue photography as a hobby. Fast forward to my 12th birthday, my parents got me my first digital camera (which I still have to this day) to be able to fully explore my interest and improve on my photography skills. I’ve decided that for this project, I’ll be combining my love for nature and macro photography to capture the intricate details of natural life that are often overlooked such as textures and patterns of leaves or flowers within the environment.  

The world is a place that is constantly changing and evolving. People are always rushing, or at least, very busy and stressed out from either work, school or worried about events that haven’t even occurred yet. At Hotchkiss, we’re accustomed to the rigorous academic, athletic and co-curricular schedules and at times, it becomes overwhelming and stressful. My message that I want to share through my photography is to encourage people to slow down, relax, and take a breath. It’s important to make time for yourself to unwind. The interesting thing about macro photography is that it forces you to do exactly that; slow down and focus on being in the present or else you’ll never be able to discover the beauty that lies in plain sight. Sometimes you just need to take a closer look.