naturewalker.com Blog

Early spring, in particularly the last few weeks of March and the first weeks into April, offers a unique opportunity to observe and photograph the first wildflowers of the season. However, to see these beauties you have to get close, literally on your hands and knees, to really appreciate the color and diversity of these tiny wildflowers.

Recently while eating breakfast at a favorite restaurant that borders the city park in Cave Springs, Georgia, I noticed a proliferation of color spreading through the grassy areas that spread along the creek that runs through the middle of the park. After eating, I walked out to see what was creating all the colors and was amazed at the different types of tiny wildflowers that had burst into bloom since the rains that had fallen in the area recently.

The photographer in me took over and even though I had no gear with me at the time and various compositions took form in my mind and I knew a return visit was at hand.

A few days later accompanied by my good friend and fellow photographer Charles Stevens, I returned to the park to find even more wildflowers had bloomed and they were all equally tiny. Unlike the larger more dramatic wildflowers that bloom in May, these jewels were anywhere from a dime to smaller than the fingernail on my pinky in size.

The largest flowers were the host of dandelions that were growing in patches but the small size of the other flowers did in no way diminish their beauty.

Spring Beauties were the predominate species and they were growing in clusters through out the area as well as small groups of white chickweed mixed in. However, quite a few other species ranging from brilliant blue, purple and bright yellow also were intermingled in, adding to the carpet of color.

To photograph this tiny landscape we both were using macro lenses that enabled us to get close to the small blooms and leaves. Tripods and beanbags were used to support the cameras for when working this close to the flowers even the smallest movement would result in unsharp images. This type of photography offers many opportunities to try different compositions and angles to capture a group of flowers or a single blossom.

Usually the wind is the most critical factor and it was quite brisk at times the morning we were there. However patience did pay off and we simply waited for it to stop before taking an image, though quite a few images did find their way to the delete bin during the editing process.

We were able to come away with quite a few beautiful images of these tiny but colorful wildflowers and it once again reminds me that nature’s grandeur is everywhere, even beneath our feet. So during the early weeks of spring take the time and reward yourself by walking out into your yard or the nearest meadow and get down on your knees to look at the colorful world beneath you.