abstract

Zapped is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at Hopeland Gardens in Aiken, SC. I discovered this coleus in a pot on the side of the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame & Museum. I loved how the colors were brightest next to the vein and then gradually decrease in...

Vein Wheel is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at Hopeland Gardens in Aiken, SC. This is some type of a round leaf. I discovered many of them down by the water.

Hypnotic is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at Hopeland Gardens in Aiken, SC. I’m not sure what it is, but it has characteristics similar to a coneflower.

Connected is from my Naturally Abstract collection and is another composed at the magical Yonce Farm. This flower was an excellent candidate for placing the focal point deep inside of it. Not only were the colors fantastic, but the petals and stamen helped create a naturally abstract setting...

Toasty is from my Naturally Abstract collection and is another composed at the magical Yonce Farm in Ridge Spring, SC. In my mind’s eye, the anthers had the appearance of something that had been toasted (especially around the edges).

Rainbow Tornado is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at the magical Yonce Farm in Ridge Spring, SC. In addition to being backlit, I loved the colors and shapes here. In my mind’s eye, I immediately thought that it looked like a tornado with a rainbow of colors dropping...

Anther Cluster is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at the magical Yonce Farm in Ridge Spring, SC. I loved the background colors so I decided to surround this group of anthers with them. At two times life size magnification, the background just dissolves into colors and...

Kaleidoscope is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at the magical Yonce Farm in Ridge Spring, SC. The colors and patterns felt like they had been rotated into position.

Tropicana Islands is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed in my back yard. This is the surface of a colorful mushroom. In my mind’s eye, the colors reminded me of orange juice, as if there were land areas surrounded by it.

Incense smoke

Canna Curl is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at Hopeland Gardens in Aiken, SC. It was so tantalizing that I refused to give up until I felt that I had captured everything I wanted. The environmental conditions were really challenging (e.g., continually changing light...

Tentacles is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at Hopeland Gardens in Aiken, SC. This magnolia bud was close to the ground which allowed me to get quite close to it while using 2X magnification.

Wet Christmas is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at Hopeland Gardens in Aiken, SC. The colors reminded me of Christmas.

On The Inside is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at the Aiken County Historical Museum in Aiken, SC. I decided to try something completely different for this piece. I focused way down inside this lily (basically where the filaments and stigma are attached).

Curtain is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at the Aiken County Historical Museum in Aiken, SC. My artistic vision was to split the image diagonally where one part featured the petal’s edge and the flower it belonged to while the other section is an entirely different...

Greenie is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at Hopeland Gardens in Aiken, SC. This is algae on the surface of a reflecting pool. I love finding little things in images that you didn't notice in the field. Here, that's the reflection that looks like a smile.

Cessation is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at Hopeland Gardens in Aiken, SC. This is another backlit leaf from the swampy area (when they are lit up like this one, they act as beacons and pull me right towards them). I was captivated by the thought that Mother Nature...

Duckweed is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at Hopeland Gardens in Aiken, SC. By putting part of my tripod in the water I was able to compose this from directly above the aquatic plants.

Hot Skull is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at the Aiken County Historical Museum in Aiken, SC. This is crepe myrtle that was exposed just before creating the image. Most of it was initially hidden under the bark. It was loose, and I was so curious about what was under...

Bubbling Yellow is from my Naturally Abstract collection and was composed at the Aiken County Historical Museum in Aiken, SC. I searched several seasons before I found one of these little flowers that was large enough to fill the entire frame. I loved all the arcs and loops.