top of page

Seeing Small Beauty


A few weeks ago we awoke to a light frost. When my wife and I stepped out on our second floor balcony to look around, I noticed that the glass which is part of the deck's railing was covered with delicate brushstrokes of frost that looked like large snowflakes. Since I was standing there in my socks in freezing temperatures, I took a few quick photos using the portrait mode on my iPhone, which blurs the background, and then dashed back inside. As you can see, the portrait mode allowed me to focus on these remarkable bits of frost without the distraction of the foliage below.


I was pleased to have made a photograph that expressed the sense of wonder that arose in me as I looked at this small artwork of nature. This experience reminded me that there are many, many small wonders all around us in nature, and that with some intention on our part to recognize them, we can find beauty wherever we are.


If you have a close-up photo that you'd like to share, please feel free to do so in the comments section below.



6 Comments


Patricia Gerloff
Patricia Gerloff
Jan 16, 2022

So delicate and detailed. You captured beauty that will transform with the sunlight. I see dragonflies and fairies.

Like

wprince007
wprince007
Jan 13, 2022

The magical wonderland that is ALWAYS all around us is a never-ending cornucopia of spellbinding elegance and beauty! All we must do to access it is to simply notice it, but most of us are too distracted most of the time to accomplish that. But to a trained and curious mind and eye, these hiding-in-plain-sight miracles offer themselves up generously. This magical wonderland is known in scientific circles simply as physical reality, but that does not at all diminish its mystery and wonder or even its simple, miraculous existence! I remember as a small child being transfixed by such things as a bee buzzing around a flower or a troop of ants marching diligently in accordance with their daily assignments,…

Like

tjbest100
Jan 13, 2022

The spider walked up to the dewdrop, picked up a small amount of water and walked back with this miniscule droplet. Btw, I inverted the photograph so you can see the pond with the rising sun in the dewdrop better.

Like
wprince007
wprince007
Jan 13, 2022
Replying to

Amazing, beautiful photo that somehow bolsters my admiration for arachnids! Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work!

Like

tjbest100
Jan 13, 2022


Like

tjbest100
Jan 13, 2022

Aaaah, so beautiful!! The formless can't contain herself and bursts into form.

Like

© 2022 by Paul Hawkwood

bottom of page