Sunday, September 01, 2013

Captured by nature in Kuching


NATURE is everywhere — in city parks and city home gardens, the air we breathe, the sun, stars and moon we gaze at and in the wild, in national parks, along the roadside, in the trees, in the oceans, in the rivers … I could write page upon page of all the places we find the natural world and some would be unexpected.

We are captured by it — by its beyond-words beauty. And this stunning beauty and amazing variety, enraptures and captures photographers around the world. And I believe (although I cannot provide the figures) the numbers are increasing.

Weekend runners share the trails with photographers carrying tripods and cameras in Sama Jaya Forest Reserve, Tabuan Jaya, Kuching. The photographers capture the complexities and the beauty of this heavily used park. They may be after small forest flowers, fungi, patterns of bark and leaves, but they are passionate and diligent as they inspect the edges of the running trails for photo opportunities.

Passion drives us and once we identify this, we develop skills and patience to bring out the best in our subjects. We may be passionate about flowers, trees, leaves, fungi, landscapes, small mini-beasts such as insects, or larger animals such as birds, reptiles, amphibians or mammals. Our passion for nature can take us anywhere, because nature is everywhere, to photograph wild flowers and the gradually creeping ferns in city gardens and parks, nearby natural ecosystems, forests, sea or river and of course to exotic locations whether national or international.

With these photographs we come to understand our topics and to appreciate nature and the wondrous natural world. The photographs touch us. Who cannot identify with young monkeys clinging to their mothers for protection, the stunning reds and oranges of a sunset, the sparkling blue water of the seas or the striking reds of new leaves?

The natural world has inspired artists past and present. Traditional motifs, for example fiddleheads — paku, midin, uncurling fern leaves — have roles in New Zealand and in the traditional handicrafts of Sarawak. Photographers experiment with light and shading, instead of paint.

Nature photographers have sometimes used their photographs to encourage conservation. For example if you visit the Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branches blog, members’ photographs are highlighted.

The macro photography of the smallest creatures showcase their beauty, which comes in very small packages. Others photograph the splendour of the vast seas, long beaches and mountains.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Captured by nature in Kuching
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