The Lotus Effect
The moorhen chicks darted back and forth across the lily pads. Cute, yes, but not contenders for the "most attractive chick in the pond" title (sorry moorhens).
My attention drifted to their playground itself - the lily leaves.
I observed their beautiful shape and how each leaf floated perfectly on the pond. They looked perfect and pristine, with pearly beads of water rolling around on the leaf's matte surface, creating a lovely contrast.
It's one of my favourite frames from 2025 (which just goes to show there are worthwhile subjects to photograph just a few steps away from your front door, if you take the time to see).
The ingredients that make this image work for me are the organic shapes, contrast and texture.
The lily pads have a pleasing organic form and I like how they combine in a random pattern with some leaves overlapping. I am also quite taken by the texture and interplay of light across their matte surface.
I made the choice to convert the image to black and white to really draw attention to the shape and contrast. For the same reason I went for a tight crop, eliminating distractions (again, sorry moorhens).
While reviewing my back catalogue, I rediscovered photos I made of lotus flowers a few years ago.
No Mud, No Lotus
Without wishing to sound grandiose, I do appreciate the symbolism of what the lotus represents.
It's astonishing how something so strikingly beautiful emerges and even thrives in muddy waters.
Perhaps there's a lesson here for photographers and anyone willing to look closely. Beauty often can be found in unexpected places: moorhen playgrounds, muddy ponds, the overlooked corners of our world.
The moorhens may not have won my attention that day, but they led me to something equally valuable - a reminder to slow down and see what's already there, waiting to be appreciated.
