My recent work has explored the moment of beauty – studying Flora in expansive flourish. These photographs, a close contemplation of flowers and fruit, have guided me into a new intimacy with the world. It’s the unseen life of the everyday, if we spent an hour closely examining the apple we’re about to eat or diving into the delicate petals of a bouquet.

What’s flourished among all of these ripe fruits and dramatic blooms is my appreciation for beauty. This time – reveling in the curves of a sunflower leaf or the single petal of a dahlia – has taught me about glory. I’ve found a majestic radiance in these tiny spaces.

My photography has also developed into a respite from the accelerating change and complexity of the world. In comparison with past generations, our daily life is exponentially fast paced and contains an onslaught of information. The simple beauty in flowers has provided a calming contrast to the complex experience of contemporary life.

This work also plays against the schism of immediacy (digital photography) and deliberation (still lifes). The process itself mirrors this juxtaposition. As a photographer I am continually waiting and preparing for flowers to reach the perfection of their bloom, then igniting the fleeting image with ephemeral light.

For me, natural beauty serves as a reminder not to let life go by unfulfilled. If you miss a moment – to speak your mind, take a chance, or create love – it disappears and cannot be recreated. You may find a different beauty soon thereafter, but that particular moment is lost forever.

Special thanks to Azeem Azeez for the theme inspiration -- and using a GPL license.