Nasturtiums 1951

Ansel Adams made this photograph of Nasturtiums sometime in the 20th century. I love the stark contrast between the dark leaves and the light flower, it makes me think about how we choose what to focus on, what to bring into the light. The leaves are like a dark sea, each one a slightly different shape, their veins creating intricate patterns. You can almost feel the velvety texture of the petals, even though it's just a photograph. It's interesting to think about how Adams used light and shadow to create such a sense of depth and texture, like he was sculpting with light. It reminds me a little of Georgia O'Keeffe's flower paintings, the way she zoomed in on the details and made them feel almost abstract. Both artists encourage us to slow down and really look at the world around us, to find beauty in the unexpected. Art is just like that, it's all about seeing things in a new way.