Eye-to-Eye with Flowers

By Tammy Anderson, Keyser, West Virginia

I never knew what I was missing until a year ago. I've always enjoyed nature and being outside, but I hadn't really noticed the small things in my own backyard.

I live on the outskirts of the small town of Fort Ashby, West Virginia, and I'm thankful to have access to land where I can enjoy the wildlife and changing seasons. But it wasn't until I became interested in photography that I realized I was missing out on the beauty of some of nature's best hidden treasures.

It was my husband, Dale, who first got me interested in photography. He used to be the only one snapping pictures, but after borrowing his camera a few times, I was hooked! We purchased another camera just for me. Now when I go for a walk, I never leave the house without it!

Spring and early summer are great times to head outdoors. Some of my favorite things to photograph on my walks are flowers. By getting down on the level with blooms—and sometimes even lower—you get a whole different view. I never realized how many beautiful stages a flower can go through before it's actually in full bloom.

Flowers are everywhere, whether they're wild or planted in a neighbor's garden. I've learned that you can get some great photos by just being patient.

A lot of times, I'll be sitting there waiting, and a bee or butterfly will come by to enjoy the flower I'm photographing. For me, this is like an extra reward for my patience.

Don't forget to look up, too, whenever you go for a walk. The birds, leaves and seeds on the trees all have different shapes, colors and textures. You never know when an American robin, mourning dove, blue jay or other bird might want to join you.

I encourage you to take the time to go for a walk and enjoy the scene around you. Slow down, get close and really look at the details of nature.

Sometimes you need to see the small things before you can see the true beauty of the big picture. It's amazing how you can get lost in the quiet and scenery of your own neighborhood.

Go ahead and get out there. Who knows? Getting close to nature might even turn into a passion you can't get enough of.

Download some of Tammy's amazing images to use as computer wallpaper in our subscriber-only Plus section.