New Jersey landscape and nature photographer, Greg Molyneux, shares his 7 best landscape and macro photographs made in 2020. Come for the rich imagery and stay for some insight into how these photos came to life amidst the upheaval of COVID-19 and societal upheaval. Were any able to bring you a moment of joy in the bitterness of 2020?
Autumn Intonation
Autumn sings its beauty in mysterious, esoteric ways. Yet the comprehension is there if only we take the time to look and listen. The beauty of autumn reveals a promised truth: rebirth and renewal is always there waiting for us. Take a moment to listen and observe the songs nature speaks.
Dahlia Dreams
Serving up a soft focus dahlia on a Friday afternoon. Smooth and inviting this flower grows to soothe. When viewed through a macro lens we come close to the tiny tubular petals emblematic of the dahlia. These petals are numerous as they are fascinating. There must be 50 our more making up each full flower.
Lilium Inter Spinas
Paradox is life. Life is paradox. Loaded with diametrically opposed dualities at every turn. These are fascinating to think upon. Solid coincidence or a purposeful pairing? Regardless it is in the push and pull of these forces we find our space to grow, even when it becomes as uncomfortable as a lily among the thorns.
Bloom Squad
I happened myself into an opportunity to shoot a Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Lens for the first time on Saturday. Ho boy is it something else. This beast is the size of a grapefruit and weighs in at a hefty 2.26 pounds. You feel this lens. It’s a fine piece of engineering, and the chunk of glass within its blackened frame is prodigious.
Born of the Purple
Life is full of happy accidents. We must take them as they come, for they are cherished boons. The lesson—missing out on a thing does not mean we lose a thing. Instead it gifts opportunity to see a thing in a different, more diffuse and loving light. We work with what we’ve got, and that is where we create the real magic to capture our forever.
Working Class Hero
Dutiful honey bee plying her trade. Drinking her nectar and loading her pollen basket, she works with intent. With energy and purpose she minds her craft. Even alone the hive is on the mind. Her community needs her; needs her singular focus to feed and to provide. To sustain the group. Bounding atop pistils by […]
The Technician
On the perils of labels. It is easy to apply limits in how we label ourselves. There is a push-pull tearing at the labels we self-apply measured against the labels others seek to apply. In this post I take a look back at how I’ve evolved my own self-limiting thinking. Analyzing how I worked to embrace a wider array of labels related to my photography and writing. Reviewing my progress from technician to creator.
Courage to Grow
Hardship is inevitable. It comes sure as a summer storm. Negative energy builds, tensions rise only to bow to the pressure. The storm hits, emotions roil and churn, and then, at the nadir of the struggle, the onslaught slackens. The skies clear and we stand ready to learn, left only with the courage to grow. This is our choice.
Upright
With COVID-19 again on the rampage, and society disrupting as we take a long hard look at our centuries old problem of racism, we stand assaulted by uncommon uncertainty. The friction is causing extreme heat and pressure looking to loose. Not since the Second World War has the United States faced such intense difficulty. Riven and fractured it is essential we challenge ourselves to remain upright during such an extreme moment in history.
