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Darwin on the rocks
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Blog challenges

Inspiration : Looking deep into nature

August 5, 2015 93 Comments

Flora has always inspired my work since I’ve started to take pictures. Each time I’m walking in the forest, a park, a garden or a conservatory, I can’t help but take hundreds of pictures and sometimes, I’m very happy with the result :p

I’m drawn to colourful flowers and I love to isolate them when I’m taking a picture, using a wide aperture. While I’m outside, inspiration is everywhere.

Two weeks ago, I was at the Valley Gardens in Harrogate, where you can find amazing displays of flowers and herbaceous beds. This is my weekly contribution to the WordPress Photo Challenge : Inspiration

Valley Gardens, Harrogate

 Valley Gardens, Harrogate
Valley Gardens, Harrogate
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
— John Muir
And you, what is your inspiration when it comes to photography ? 

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Next Article The Scottish Crannog Centre

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93 Comments

  1. avirup Reply
    August 17, 2016 at 5:56 pm

    Outstanding captures, each one of them!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 17, 2016 at 7:42 pm

      Thank you !

  2. Tieme Reply
    October 11, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    Great job on isolating the colours! Love the large aperture. If you like isolating colours I would like to give you a tip: Read about complementary colours.

    Feel free to remove this comment if you don’t like me promoting my site, but on this page I have explained how you can use colours in your composition: http://luvo-photography.com/roadmap/how-to-create-beautiful-photos/how-to-create-depth-in-a-photo/#colours

    Enjoy your Sunday!

    Warm regards,
    Tieme

  3. gabigabs111 Reply
    September 4, 2015 at 4:23 pm

    Beautiful!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      September 6, 2015 at 10:20 am

      Thank you !

  4. Inger Reply
    September 4, 2015 at 2:38 am

    Stunning captures – looks like you are enjoying your new camera.Thumbs up!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      September 6, 2015 at 10:19 am

      I try, but these days, I don’t have a lot of time to take picture and even less to take care of this blog 🙁

  5. Dalo 2013 Reply
    August 17, 2015 at 4:46 am

    Beautiful shots ~ the first one deserves to be framed and hanging somewhere 🙂 Nothing quite like a great capture of a flower.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 17, 2015 at 8:45 am

      I’m never tired of taking pictures of flowers, it’s always so inspiring 🙂

  6. inesephoto Reply
    August 14, 2015 at 3:28 am

    So beautiful! Nature has always been my inspiration too 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 14, 2015 at 9:09 pm

      Nature is a wonderful source of inspiration 🙂

  7. bert0001 Reply
    August 11, 2015 at 7:37 am

    Beautiful

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 11, 2015 at 8:19 am

      These gardens were really inspiring !

  8. mistynites Reply
    August 10, 2015 at 1:37 pm

    Gorgeous. I love spring when the flowers are blooming in the Botanical Gardens. I often take photos then too. Otherwise, landscapes & wildlife are my main photo inspirations.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 10, 2015 at 2:11 pm

      Landscape are definitively another great source of inspiration for me. I’m not that good with wildlife, it’s more the specialty of my boyfriend !

  9. mytravelmonkey Reply
    August 10, 2015 at 10:32 am

    You do take a good flora shot my lovely! 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 10, 2015 at 1:00 pm

      Thank you dear, you know, I’m crazy about flowers. I pity the people coming with me to these places, I’m so slow, stopping every meters to take pictures :p

  10. realplacespeoplestories Reply
    August 9, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    Sooo pretty your pictures! Images of flowers is really your speciality 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 9, 2015 at 1:16 pm

      I enjoy taking pictures of flowers, they are so vibrant and colourful, and every one of them is different 🙂

  11. Alok Singhal Reply
    August 8, 2015 at 10:30 am

    I just bought Sony Alpha 7 and would start learn photography soon…let’s see when it gets professioanal 🙂

    You have amazing talent with photography!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 9, 2015 at 9:52 am

      The more your practice the better you get 🙂

      Good luck !

      • Alok Singhal Reply
        August 9, 2015 at 10:26 am

        True. Thank you!

  12. LuAnn Reply
    August 7, 2015 at 6:54 pm

    So very lovely!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 7, 2015 at 10:26 pm

      thank you ! I have a soft spot for flowers and this garden was fabulous !

  13. luxurycolumnist Reply
    August 7, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    Your flower shots are fabulous, what time of day did you take them?

    Suze | LuxuryColumnist

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 7, 2015 at 3:36 pm

      I went to Harrogate for the flea market nearby, then we parked the car… and walked to the garden. It was probably around noon, but it was cloudy.

  14. Sue Slaght Reply
    August 7, 2015 at 6:00 am

    Fantastic photos! I have bokeh envy. 🙂 As far as inspiration in photography it comes in so many forms. For me the key is to be open to what comes into view .

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 7, 2015 at 8:54 am

      In a way, I’m like that as well. Everything is worth photographing if it catches my eyes 🙂 But with flowers.. it’s a special love story 🙂

  15. Jewels Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 11:40 pm

    Absolutely gorgeous!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 7, 2015 at 8:06 am

      Thank you ! I’m glad you enjoyed ! have a lovely weekend 🙂

      • Jewels Reply
        August 7, 2015 at 5:54 pm

        Thanks, you too! 🙂

  16. joylovestravel Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 11:25 am

    Don’t know this place but will definitely be visiting! Great pictures too.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 2:53 pm

      It’s totally free ! So it’s worth it, i’ll share more details about that place soon 🙂

  17. Photography Journal Blog Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 11:11 am

    It seems we have a similar inspiration, nature 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 2:52 pm

      Definitively ! 🙂

  18. christianekraft Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 9:53 am

    Elles sont superbes toutes ces photos ! Eclaboussures de joie et de couleurs, suis touchée en plein coeur !

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 2:52 pm

      Je sais que toi aussi tu puises ton inspiration dans la beauté de ces fleurs lorsque tu crées tes magnifiques bouquets 🙂

      • christianekraft Reply
        August 7, 2015 at 8:02 am

        Tout à fait 🙂 C’est là qu’on se rejoint….

  19. allesistgut Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 6:53 am

    Your shots are so beautiful. It’s nice to concentrate on a motif and dive fully into it. So lovely. Have a great day!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 8:35 am

      It’s nice also to see the perfect symmetry sometimes, nature is complex sometimes, and yet simple when you look from far away.

  20. twobrownfeet Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 5:19 am

    Truly inspirational! Nature keeps us going. 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 8:34 am

      “Nature keeps us going”, I couldn’t have said it better 🙂

  21. brandiadamsphotography Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 3:50 am

    Stunning. I’ve always enjoyed your photos and the stories you share. Thanks again for filling my heart with warmth and inspiration!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 8:33 am

      It has been a long time since I’ve visited a garden, and going there was really pleasant ! I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures. I hope you are doing great !

  22. brittabottle Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 3:09 am

    Such lovely shots! So simple, yet so beautiful. 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 8:32 am

      I find beauty in simple things, sometimes 😉

      • brittabottle Reply
        August 7, 2015 at 2:05 am

        Sometimes the simplest things are the most beautiful!

  23. midmiocene Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 2:56 am

    Stunning photos! Good luck with the challenge.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 8:32 am

      It’s a weekly challenge, but there is no prize or whatsoever. You could participate too if you want!

  24. Jet Eliot Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 1:25 am

    Your photos here are lovely–such beautiful flowers, and the John Muir quote is perfectly matched. 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 8:30 am

      I quite like this quote, and I didn’t know John Muir was born in Scotland 🙂 I thought he was American 🙂 Ooops, my bad.

  25. Garden Walk Garden Talk Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 12:10 am

    I too like photographing the beauty in nature, and like the quote, I feel like I receive more than what I can imagine. Lovely images of flowers.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 8:29 am

      Walking can be very rewarding. Sometimes, you don’t need to book expensive tours to discover a region.. Nothing is better than a walk, with a camera in the hand 🙂

  26. madlyinlovewithlife Reply
    August 6, 2015 at 12:02 am

    I’m like you—the beauty of the flora in this world is one of my favourite things to photograph. I get so wonderfully lost in it, hours can fly by and it only feels like minutes. Beautiful shots, all three, very inspiring indeed. Nice work! :))

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 8:28 am

      We are on the same page ! 🙂 I could stay hours in a garden and never got bored. I tried to photograph bugs this time and I managed to get a clear shot, but all in all, it’s very tricky to take pictures of them while they are feeding on the flowers. They are moving all the time !

  27. Francis.R. Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 11:04 pm

    I love gazanias, so a big thank you 🙂 Your avatar besides your posture make me think that the flowers around you are also trying to get a glimpse beyond.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 7:31 am

      For a flower enthusiast like me, i think it’s really a shame that I don’t know the name of most of them 🙂 I should work on that !

  28. T Ibara Photo Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 10:49 pm

    Beautiful photos, and what an inspiration 🙂

    • T Ibara Photo Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 10:50 pm

      And I hope you’ll write more about this garden :)))

      • darwinontherocks Reply
        August 6, 2015 at 7:30 am

        i should.. but as you could see.. I’m very bad at blogging these days 😉

        • T Ibara Photo Reply
          August 6, 2015 at 12:17 pm

          I understand, our daily life can become very busy, and it’s also good to get away from the computer 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 6, 2015 at 7:29 am

      Nature is the best source of inspiration 🙂

  29. Ingrid Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 9:44 pm

    I love that first photo…. beautiful. Great job!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 9:49 pm

      It looks like it’s a bit floating, I quite like it too ! And I love the vibrant colours of the last one 🙂

  30. ulli Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 7:10 pm

    A wonderful series of filigree and strong flowers – thank you.
    Greetings,
    Ulli

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 9:40 pm

      This garden was fascinating ! so many interesting shape ! They had a part dedicated to New Zealand with special plants, I’ll blog about it one day ! I must go back, the weather was not fantastic the day went

      • ulli Reply
        August 6, 2015 at 7:49 am

        I look forward to your next series 🙂
        Greetings,
        Ulli

        • darwinontherocks Reply
          August 6, 2015 at 8:36 am

          I would like to share more about Scotland first, my mind is a bit messy right now ! So many things to talk about !

          • ulli
            August 6, 2015 at 9:23 am

            Scotland is wonderful. I’ll never forget our trip on the Caladonian – uncredible fascinating.
            Greetings,
            Ulli

          • darwinontherocks
            August 6, 2015 at 9:32 am

            You must have seen incredible landscape throughout the journey 🙂

  31. Camp That Site Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 6:33 pm

    Great photos, I love these photo challenges but i have fallen a few weeks behind.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 9:31 pm

      I would have loved to participate to the previous one, but I completely missed it ! They are great indeed ! 🙂

  32. lolaWi Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    absolutely beautiful shots! flora is my favorite subject too! 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 9:31 pm

      I wouldn’t have guessed haha ! 🙂

  33. fifi + hop Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 4:50 pm

    Beautiful! I enjoy taking flora pics as well 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 5:51 pm

      One day, someone told me that cats and flowers are the favourite subjects of “beginners”, but I have the feeling it will always stay my favourite ! 🙂

  34. The Hopeful Herbalist Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    Oo, gorgeous colours…

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 5:46 pm

      Thank you ! 🙂

  35. Amanda Afield Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 4:29 pm

    Beautiful photos! I have to say the English hills inspire me to take tons of photos, the quality varies with the weather but I still enjoy taking them!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 5:44 pm

      Yes, I can understand why you are inspire by the English hilly countryside 🙂 It’s gorgeous !

  36. jebusandandrea Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 4:28 pm

    Very relaxing. Have a stressful day at work and this made me smile😊

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 5:41 pm

      Oh I’m sorry to read that you are having a stressful day. Try to have a cup of tea or a hot beverage, it helps sometimes 🙂

  37. cyventurini Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    Absolutely beautiful!!! I love all of the vivid colors and you are always “spot on” with your composition! I always enjoy your images and the narratives 😃

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 5:38 pm

      Thank you ! I really have a soft stop for flowers and gardens :p

      • cyventurini Reply
        August 5, 2015 at 5:44 pm

        Oh! I must post an image of a strawberry I took few years back which is shaped just like lips so you could see it 😃

        • darwinontherocks Reply
          August 5, 2015 at 6:01 pm

          Oh it seems interesting ! Please do it !

          • cyventurini
            August 5, 2015 at 7:32 pm

            Ok, I’ll dig into my archive and find the image. Stay tuned 😜

  38. Anne Sandler Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 4:19 pm

    Beautiful work. I also enjoy shooting flora. The drought in California is showing on our blossoms. They wither and die so soon. I’m hoping for a wet winter.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 4:23 pm

      We are blessed in the uk to have a relatively temperate climate. It’s never too hot or too warm.

      I wish we could send you some rain !

  39. vever02 Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 4:04 pm

    They are beautiful your photos,
    Congratulations to the photographer.
    Have a nice day.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 4:07 pm

      Thank you Hervé, I’m happy you enjoyed the pictures. Have a nice evening !

  40. Indah Susanti Reply
    August 5, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    These images are truly inspiring – great to greet everyone computer screen in the morning 🙂 Beautiful images!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      August 5, 2015 at 3:49 pm

      Thank you ! It was difficult to only select a few, I may have to blog about this wonderful garden at one point. The best bit : it was free and so well maintain !!

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I love travelling and exploring new countries. I’ve spent a few months in Galapagos Islands during summer 2011 and that was the beginning of my passion for travelling.

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