Category Archives: Nature Photography

The Ultimate List of Nature Quotes for Instagram 

We all need nature. It’s where we come from and where we return to in the end. From the beauty of a flower to the majesty of a mountain, nature is a source of endless inspiration.

When towering trees and sprawling fields surround us, something about the natural world fills us with peace and awe. If you’re looking for a little inspiration to get you out into nature, take a look at these beautiful nature quotes.

These quotes about nature are the perfect way to appreciate all that it offers us. Each one will remind you why it’s so important to spend time in nature and connect with the world around us.

Quotes About the Beauty of Nature

© Provided by Jill Wheeler

1. Serene nature is one of the most beautiful things on this earth. The way the sun shines down through the trees or how a gentle breeze can make everything seem so calm.

2. It’s no wonder that people love to spend time in nature, whether that be camping, hiking, or just sitting outside and taking it all in. These quotes about the beauty of nature will make you want to get outside and experience it for yourself.

3. There’s something about nature that just makes me feel alive.

4. In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.

5. He who opens his arms to embrace the world will always find a way back home.

6. Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.

7. The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the Universe, to match your nature with Nature.

8. We do not see nature with our eyes but with our understanding and our hearts.

9. Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. 

10. There is no perfection in nature, just as there is no perfection in humanity.

11. All things on earth point home in old October; sailors to sea, travelers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow, and the long voice of the hounds echoing into the woods.

12. Not just beautiful, though–the stars are like the trees in the forest, alive and breathing. And they’re watching me.

13. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night and spring after winter.

14. Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

15. The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is an expression of loyalty to the earth. 

16. The earth that bore and sustains us is the only paradise we shall ever know, the only one we’ll ever need.

17. To be thrilled by the stars at night and over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring are some of the rewards of a simple life.

18. In nature, nothing is perfect, and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted and bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.

19. There is something of the marvelous in all things of nature.

20.I go to nature to be soothed and healed and have my senses put in order.

21. Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.

22. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while autumn leaves drop off. 

23. If I want to stop one heart from breaking, I shall show it nature’s glory in its rawest form.

24. The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain and listen to its calming music.

25. Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

26. In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.

 27. To be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter, you must leave yourself at nature’s disposal. 

Inspirational Quotes For Instagram About Nature

© Provided by Jill Wheeler

Nature provides us with an endless source of wisdom. Its lessons are always fresh, and they can help us navigate even the most difficult times. Let’s now find the best quotes about learning from nature – may they provide you with strength in challenging times.

28. There is something incredibly humbling about realizing how small you are in the face of nature.

29. There is no escape from nature, even in the busiest of cities.

30. You can find beauty anywhere if you just take the time to look for it.

31. We all come from nature, and to nature, we will all return.

32. All it takes is one walk through the woods to realize how vast and wonderful our world really is.

33. There is something magical about being surrounded by trees and wildlife.

34. Nature has a way of making us feel small and insignificant in the best way possible.

35. We are all made of stardust, and we are connected through the natural world.

36. If we’re willing to listen, nature always has something to teach us.

37. There is a certain peace that comes from spending time in nature.

38. There is something special about watching the world wake up in the morning.

39. In nature, we find what we need to survive and thrive.

40. We are all a part of nature, and nature is a part of us.

41. There is no place like the great outdoors.

42. You don’t have to go far to find beauty in nature.

43. The best way to appreciate nature is to get out there and experience it for yourself.

44. There’s nothing like a cold winter’s day to make you appreciate the warmth of summer.

45. No matter what season it is, nature always has something to offer.

46. Nature is the best medicine for whatever ails you.

47. There is nothing like a beautiful sunset to remind you of how amazing our world is.

48. There is something special about the stillness of the woods at night.

49. The stars are always shining, even on the darkest of nights.

50. In nature, we find everything we need to live a happy and healthy life.

51. We all have a responsibility to take care of our planet and the creatures that live on it.

52. The best way to connect with nature is to get outside and explore.

53. The more time you spend in nature, the more you realize how connected we all are.

54. Nature is the ultimate teacher, and we can learn so much from it.

55. We are all a part of the natural world, and we should cherish it as such.

Instagram Quotes and Captions for Nature Photography

© Provided by Jill Wheeler

56. Instagram is a great outlet for sharing your nature photos with others. When you have a list of inspirational quotes you can use as captions for your photos, your Gram feed looks even prettier. Here are some of our favorites.

57. The earth has music for those who listen.

58. Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

59. Nature does not hurry, yet everything is on time and in its perfect order.

60. The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.

61. Not every sunset is beautiful, but every sunset is special.

62. Give me odorous at sunrise, a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed.

63. There are always flowers for those who want to see them.

64. We do not see nature with our eyes but with our understanding and our hearts.

65. There is something infinitely healing in nature’s repeated refrains- the assurance that the sun rises after every dark night.

66. We have forgotten how to be good guests and walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.

67. I am losing precious days. I am degenerating into a machine for making money. I am learning nothing in this trivial world. I must break away and get out into the mountains to learn the news.

68. The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always bewitching and fleeting; it is also an expression of loyalty to the land, the earth which bore us.

69. We need the tonic of wildness…At its simplest, wilderness is undeveloped land.

70. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.

71. There is nothing more important than preserving our planet and its many wonders.

72. He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance into the nature’s arms.

73. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

74. Nature is the art of God.

Funny Nature Pictures Caption

© Provided by Jill Wheeler

75. I chose the road less travelled and now I don’t know where I am.

76. An optimist is someone who gets treed by a lion but enjoys the scenery. – Walter Winchell

77. Real jungle > concrete jungle

78. Tree’s company

79. I pine for you

80. Planting myself here for a while

81. Just another day in the office

Natural View Picture Captions For Instagram

© Provided by Jill Wheeler

82. “The most beautiful part of the day is when you wake up in the morning.” -Anne Frank

83. “Look for a way to turn what seems like an obstacle into an opportunity.” -Oprah Winfrey

84. It is a good idea to keep your eyes open, for when you find yourself in trouble someone else may have left their lantern on for

85. Most people these days are blessed with the luxury of spending their day at work. With that said, it is important to remember what you have taken for granted.

86. The natural world is not just a place for you to go on vacation. It’s also the thing that provides everything we need in order to survive.”

87. The trees are my friends. They talk to me. -Elizabeth Lawrence

88. I am always in awe of the natural world and I find it so inspiring when you can take a picture that conveys what you are feeling.” -@natgeo

Mountain Quotes For Your Instagram Post

89. “There is something about the peak that makes you want to reach for it. It’s not a longing, but rather an instinctual tug deep inside your being.” – Jon Krakauer

90. “Every summit offers its own beauty, but one stands out. It’s a peak that shines above the others because of its size and shape.” – Jon Krakauer

91. “I was born in the mountains. I made my home there, and it is beautiful to me. When I die, that will be where they bury me; so long as you don’t get in the way.”- John Muir

92. “A mountain is not just a mass of rock and ice. It has depth, it’s got moods.” -Tom Stoppard

93. “I find my peace and joy in the mountain.” – Unknown

94. “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” – John Muir

One Word Nature Captions

Here are some of the best one-word nature captions for your next post.

95. Wild

96. Breathe

97. Ignited

98. Wander

99. Escape

100. Tranquil

101. Thankful

102. Paradise

103. Happy

104. Bliss

105. Peace

106. Vibrant

107. Untouched

108. Believe

109. Green

110. Illuminating

111. Silence

112.Clarity

113. Fields

114. Outside

Short Nature Captions

114. There are two things in life that I love – the first is watching a storm from close to my house, and the second is when it’s raining so hard that I can’t see anything.”

115. Look at the beauty all around you, in every flower and rock and tree. Don’t think that it’s not enough because

116. I walked the fields, I saw the flowers and trees

117. I felt their breath against my skin; ’twas summer.”

What are Some Good Instagram Caption Ideas?

Some good Instagram caption ideas include:

119. “Just trying to branch out a bit.”

120. “Trails before ales, pines before wines, lakes before cakes.”

121. “Branching out.”

122. “The view is tree-mendous!”

123. “Life’s a beach.”

124. “A heaping slice of perfection, please.”

What Are the Best Nature quotes?

125. “Nothing is as beautiful and refreshing as Nature!” This quote by John Muir reminds us of how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful world.

126. In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect

127. Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.

128. Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

129. Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads

What Are Some Good Photo Ideas?

Some good photo ideas for nature photography include taking pictures of nature scenes, wildlife, landscapes, people in nature, sunrise or sunset, and flowers in bloom.

The best time to take nature photos is during the morning and evening hours, when there are fewer shadows. We really enjoy the photos we have taken of sunrises and sunsets We have also discovered that using a tripod is essential for taking good nature photos.

How can I get more likes on my Instagram photos?

Here are a few tips for getting more likes on your Instagram photos:

1. Use nature quotes as Instagram captions. People love seeing quotes that inspire them or make them think.

2. Use photos of scenic locations. People are naturally drawn to beautiful places, so if you can capture a stunning landscape, you’re sure to get some likes.

3. Use photos of people in nature. Whether it’s a photo of you hiking with friends or simply enjoying the outdoors, people will be drawn to it and will likely double-tap!

What Are Some good Tips For Taking Nature Photos?

Here are some tips for taking beautiful nature photos:

1. Take photos that capture the beauty of nature in all its forms. This could include close-ups of flowers, wide shots of landscapes, or anything in between.

2. Use natural lighting when possible to create stunning photos. This means avoiding direct sunlight, which can create harsh shadows and squinting subjects. Instead, try to take advantage of soft, diffused light for the best results.

3. Take photos that show the interconnectedness of all things in nature. This could be a photo of a bird perched on a tree branch, or a bee collecting pollen from a flower. It’s these little details that help tell the story of how everything in nature is connected.

4. Shoot photos that inspire and motivate others to appreciate and enjoy nature. This could be a photo of a breathtaking sunset over the ocean, or a close-up of an animal in its natural habitat. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something that will make people want to get outside and explore nature for themselves!

How Can I Make My Instagram Photos Stand Out?

One way to make your Instagram photos stand out is to use nature quotes in your captions. This will make your photos more interesting and show off your love of nature. You can also use nature photos to show off your photography skills, creativity, and appreciation for the natural world.

What Are Some Good Hashtags To Use For Nature Photos?

Some good hashtags to use for nature photos are: #nature, #forest, #river, #sky, #sunset, #mountain, #hill, and #lake #naturelover #natureaddict #naturephotography #outdoors#naturesbests

How Can I make My Instagram Account More Popular?

One way to make your Instagram account more popular is to share nature quotes. By sharing these quotes, you will be able to attract more followers who are interested in the same thing.

Additionally, using Instagram captions for selfies can also help show your personality and create a connection with your followers. Lastly, sharing interesting photos of the natural world is another great way to engage and inspire your followers.

What Are Some Other Good Quotes About Nature?

125. “Nature’s beauty, frame by frame.”

126. “Spring is Nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’”

127. “What is life but one grand adventure?”

128. “Want to conquer yourself, surpass the snowy hills.”

129. “Green is my favorite color of Nature.”

130. “I am feeling good-natured.”

What Are Some Other Good Instagram Accounts to Follow?

There are many great Instagram accounts to follow if you’re interested in nature and the environment. Here are a few of our favorites:

@sustainablebusiness – This account is all about businesses that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. They feature businesses of all sizes from all over the world, and highlight the importance of sustainability in business.

@ecology_today – This account is devoted to news and stories about ecology and the environment. They post articles, photos, and videos about a variety of topics related to ecology, including conservation, pollution, and climate change.

@earthfriendly – This account is devoted to promoting earth-friendly products and practices. They feature eco-friendly businesses and products, and provide tips on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

@treehugger – This account is all about trees! They post beautiful photos of trees, as well as articles about tree planting initiatives, conservation efforts, and the importance of trees in our ecosystem.

@greenpeaceusa – This account is from the well-known environmental organization Greenpeace USA. They post news stories, campaign updates, photos, videos, and more about a variety of environmental issues including climate change, deforestation, ocean conservation, and more.

Get Out And Explore The World Around You

The beauty of nature has been recognized throughout history. From early writers and philosophers to modern-day poets and artists, nature has inspired some of the most beautiful and thought-provoking works of art.

Whether it is the grandeur of a mountain range or the simple beauty of a flower, nature has a way of touching our hearts and souls. As we continue to explore and appreciate the world around us, let us not forget the importance of preserving the natural environment for future generations.

We hope these quotes will help you explore your beautiful surroundings more diligently and with great love for the planet! 

© Provided by WRIC Richmond
Octopus coming to Maymont nature center in Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — An octopus will soon be sashaying its way into the Robins Nature Center at Maymont.

The squishy friend will make its debut on Friday, March 17, joining the 70 species of fish, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans and other water-based wildlife. In conjunction, a free screening of the award-winning documentary, “My Octopus Teacher” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. as part of the 13th Annual RVA Environmental Film Festival.

“We are so excited to expand Maymont’s aquatic collection with such a fascinating creature,” said Krista Weatherford, Director of Programming and Community Engagement for Maymont. “It will help our educators teach about the differences between vertebrate and invertebrate species, animal adaptations both physical and behavioral, and human impacts on their habitats.”

The octopus will remain on display for up to a year in the Robins Nature Center — the largest facility of its kind in Central Virginia — where it will serve to enhance the environmental education for youth programs, local schools and other Maymont visitors.

For more information on the Robins Nature Center, visit the Maymont website.

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRIC ABC 8News.

Developing an instinct for when the light will be good is one of the secrets of creating dramatic landscape images, Landscape Photographer of the Year 2022 winner Will Davies tells Damien Demolder

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It might be considered by some to be a poor show of manners to win the top prize in the Take A View Landscape Photographer of the Year competition on the first time of entering. But perhaps Will Davies’ move to the USA has made him forget about gentlemanly sportsmanship and fine traditions. His only saving grace perhaps is that the winning image shows God’s own South Wales in glorious sunlight and describes the gently undulating countryside spread out before him from Pen y Crug with great show of patriotic adulation. Beating thousands of more seasoned landscapers to the top spot, Will’s photograph carries a number of hallmarks of his developing style and shows us both the way he works and the elements that catch his eye.

Getting into photography

Although Will grew up in Wales in his teenage years he was more interested in golf, pubs and rugby than in the spectacular landscape that surrounded him. It was a move to East Africa with the international development organisation he worked for that opened his eyes to the natural world, and to photography.

‘I live in Washington DC at the moment,’ Will tells us, ‘where the immediate landscape and wildlife opportunities are a little limited, but when I was 27 I moved to Ethiopia. It was about 2007 and a couple of years after digital SLRs had become a bit more mainstream. I wanted a camera to take on trips, so got myself a Canon Rebel XT (EOS 350D in the UK). I’d moved there on my own, so I had plenty of time at weekends to do what I wanted – and I wanted to travel around to see the country.

I also wanted to be able to capture pictures of the people, the landscape and the wildlife to share with people at home. It’s pretty easy to take good pictures in Ethiopia as the high-altitude scenery is stunning, and once I started to get a few decent pictures of it I really got the photography bug. From there I moved to Kenya, which is where things really took off for me and wildlife photography. When you can drive to the Maasai Mara at the weekend it’s hard not to get a little bit obsessed with photography.

‘I’d had a film camera as a child but I wasn’t very interested. The instant feedback you get with a digital camera though made a lot of difference to me. I could see what I’d just shot and would occasionally say ‘Wow – that’s pretty good!’ I could see when I made mistakes and immediately see what was wrong, which gave me the chance to correct things and to learn a lot more quickly. It was the first time I was taking pictures that got me excited and which I felt I could share with other people. It helped that the standard of postcard and travel photography in Ethiopia at the time wasn’t very good at all, so it gave me a lot of confidence in what I was creating.

At the time there wasn’t much tourism in the country, and most people associated the country with poverty, but the scenery and the history was, and is, amazing. There are churches from the 12^th century carved out of the rocks that are beautifully conserved and it’s a really fascinating place to travel. There are gelada baboons in the Simien Mountains too, that sit on the edge of 2000-metre-high cliffs and which are almost tame. They just sit there and let you photograph them – so it’s very easy. I visited them a few times and was gradually getting into wildlife photography before I moved to Kenya and before I started buying half decent camera gear.’

First time lucky

‘I hadn’t entered Landscape Photographer of the Year before, not because I didn’t want to or didn’t know about it,. But because I didn’t have anything I thought was worth putting in. Most of my pictures were taken in Africa and I only had a few snaps taken in Pembrokeshire from holidays. During The Pandemic I spent a lot of time back in the UK and had the chance to photograph the countryside around where I come from.

I would walk in the hills and take the camera, and when we could travel I went to Scotland and to North Wales to take pictures too. I got a decent number of good pictures together, and thought I had enough to make it worth a shot at the competition. I wouldn’t have entered unless I thought I had a chance obviously, but really I was just hoping to get into the book. I really didn’t expect it was possible for me to win. There are a lot of really good UK landscape photographers and the standard is always very high.

‘Winning gave me a big confidence boost, and has motivated me to shoot a lot more than I did in the past. It has also put me in touch with other photographers, and got me the attention of magazines and websites. So it’s been great that way too. I’ve had to make my own website and join Instagram so that people can find me. It would be easy to feel a lot of pressure to do well next time too, and to keep up the success, but I try to put that to the back of my mind. Fundamentally I do this for the joy of it and my love of being outside.

‘Even though I grew up in South Wales there were a lot of places I didn’t know so spending time there with my camera during lock-down has really opened it up. I used to just go off to explore and to see what I’d come across without doing any research at all. I knew some places that would have photographic potential and head in that direction, but I came to realise it was a pretty inefficient method of finding locations.

Going in blind of course meant that I wasn’t copying anyone else and I wasn’t going to be influenced by other pictures I’d seen, but it really does pay to do some research. The first guide book I bought was Drew Buckley’s Explore and Discover South Wales, which showed me so many places I just didn’t know about – even though it was my part of the country. If I’m going anywhere now I get a guidebook to find out where the best locations are, if only just to get me started.’

Instinct for the moment

‘The excitement comes before you get the camera out, doesn’t it?’ Will points out. ‘There are certain days when you just have that feeling as you’re driving to wherever you’re going or walking, and you know the conditions are going to be exciting. I mean it could be that you’re out in autumn, the colors are beautiful and it’s one of those mornings where the mist is just sitting amongst the trees – there’s going to be an opportunity. You know when the sun rises you’ll get a stunning and misty landscape. Or it could be that it’s just snowed and you can see the clouds are clearing and you have a feeling that at sunrise there’s going to be some magical light. You start to develop a bit of an instinct for when it’s going to be good.

‘For me it’s all about the light. A lot of photographers say they’re ‘chasing the light’ and I think for me that’s also true. In those moments on a cloudy day when the light just breaks through and hits a part of the landscape and brings it to life. It can create huge contrasts between the the sunlit parts of the scene and a background that’s maybe full of storm clouds. It’s the same when you get that first light hitting the mist as it’s just lifting off the trees in the morning. Those are good days, and sometimes there are so many great photos to be had it’s almost stressful deciding which to shoot. It can be hard to relax and focus instead of running around trying to get all the angles, views and opportunities.

I take a lot of photos – that’s kind of my approach. I don’t usually go out to shoot a particular scene or a very specific composition. I may have certain shots in mind but I try to adapt according to how the light is hitting the landscape.’

Light and lenses

Will says he likes to simplify the scenes in front of him to make them compelling, but without losing the drama that often comes with the complexity of the natural landscape. Part of his method for doing this involves using a telephoto lens to isolate distant areas, such as in his winning shot of Brecon Beacons in Winter. ‘Using a telephoto lens makes it much easier to limit what’s in the frame, and to help the viewer focus on what you want them to see. It also gives the scene a bit of compression between the foreground and the background that can help to bring the drama out.

It’s hard to shoot with a wide angle lens in the Brecon Beacons. Compared to Essex it’s mountainous, but it isn’t the Dolomites or Iceland. It’s rolling hills by those standards, so with a wide lens it can look a bit flat while a long lens in good conditions can bring out a sense of drama.

‘At the coast it’s a different story though, and I almost always want to shoot with a wideangle, as there are usually interesting foreground details and cliffs in the background. You need a wide just to get everything in the frame. With a wide angle the importance of the foreground becomes more pronounced so you have to make sure there is something in the foreground to see or that it fits into the wider landscape itself.

‘I like the contrast between light and shadow in the landscape, but I really like it when the light is on the foreground and the background is darker and moodier. I like that look as it’s the opposite of what we usually see – where the foreground appears a bit too dark as it’s against a bright sky. Shaded mountains with a bright foreground is always something I’m on the look-out for as it feels like nature is flipped, and you have this lovely light drawing you into the image.

‘I think one thing I’ve learned is to know when I’m going to get the right conditions at different times of day and in different situations. If you’re in the Brecon Beacons there’s much less point going out before sunrise or after the sunset because you really need that sunlight – you need something to create that drama. If you’re on the coast though it’s quite hard to take good photos when there is direct sunlight. It’s those kind of pre-dawn or twilight moments when you get the reflections and the colours in the sky. That I’ve learned from trial and error. I need to be aware of how different types of conditions will fit different scenes in different ways.’

See our guide to outdoor light in photography here.

Will Davies – Camera kit

‘I don’t shoot much wildlife these days, so most of my kit is aimed at landscape work. I use a Canon EOS 5DR which I got because it was the highest-resolution full frame Canon camera at the time. I have three zoom lenses to cover 17mm to 200mm, though I do still have my Sigma 300mm which cost more than my other three lenses together.

‘I discovered in Iceland recently that I need a better tripod that can hold the camera still in the wind and that doesn’t just slide along on the ice – so that’s my next upgrade.

‘For my landscapes I tend to use f/16 all the time. I don’t really see any reason not to have focus throughout the whole image. I’m not into selective focusing, so I pick my focus point and stop down. I rarely shoot any other way. Of course for wildlife the opposite was true. I’d use a wide aperture to get a shallow depth-of-field, but I like my landscapes to be sharp front-to-back.’

See the best cameras for Landscape Photography here.

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To see more of Will’s work visit his website and Instagram.

This year’s Landscape Photographer of the Year is now open for entries until 31^st May 2023. Submit your photos here.

See more of the best competitions to enter here.

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Featured image: Castle Stalker, Scotland. Will Davies

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Need further landscape photography guidance? Check out our landscape technique guides here, including our complete guide to Landscape Photography.

You can also improve your landscape photography by joining us on one of our upcoming photography trips. Tours include Faroe Islands with Serkan Günes, 22 – 27 August 2023. See all photography tours and vacations in partnership with Zoom Photo Tours.here.

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© (photo credit: Sarit Palachi/SPNI)
YEHUDIYA Nature Reserve.

About 140 thousand travelers visited national parks and nature reserves in Israel on Saturday, according to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Some, like the marine inspectors at Yam Ataf Nature Reserve, had the pleasure of making new friends under the sea.

Marine unit inspectors were able to meet a pod of dolphins during an inspection tour.

“The common dolphin is an endangered species in the Mediterranean Sea,” said Avitar Ben Avi, one of the inspectors. “Israel’s coasts have been defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as important for common dolphins. I was happy to have documented some of them.”

“Israel’s coasts have been defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as important for common dolphins. I was happy to have documented some of them.”

Avitar Ben Avi

Banias Nature Reserve

The Banias Nature Reserve saw 4,200 visitors on Saturday, which also marked 13 years since the reserve’s opening.

Ofer Shanar, the reserve’s director, said that “the visitors enjoyed an experiential day for the whole family. I was happy to see many visitors who came on Saturday to learn about the reserve, took part in the activity and walked the trails.”

Park attendance and special activities 

Also on Saturday, 5,600 people visited Caesarea National Park, 4,500 people went to Yarkon Tel Afek National Park, 4,300 trekked to Masada National Park, and Ashkelon National Park had 3,700 visitors.

The parks held various educational activities for guests to learn more about the flora and fauna they held. 

The Carmel Hai-Bar Nature Reserve visitors became acquainted with: fallow deer, gazelles, roe deer and eagles. They also learned the reasons why the fallow deer are endangered, and how the Israel Nature and Parks Authority restored them to their native habitats using the park’s wide open spaces. 

A riveting exhibition showcasing the work of the most accomplished wildlife photographers in the world is currently on display at the Kenya Wildlife Service offices in Nairobi.

The photo bonanza, which documents the vibrant existence in the Kenyan jungle, has been open since March 3.

It is a joint venture between the Kenya Wildlife Service and Karakana Initiative, through its flagship project PhotoKenya.

Karakana Initiative’s director Steve Nderitu told the Star that the 10-day outdoor show will feature at least seven experienced nature and wildlife photographers.

The eye-catching collection includes work by veteran wildlife photographer Paras Chandaria, who was born and raised in the vast coastal city of Mombasa in Kenya.

Chandaria completed his O Levels at the London EGCE before enrolling at the University of Nottingham to earn a bachelor’s degree in business management.

“Although moving to Nairobi later on expanded my eyes to even being a better wildlife photographer, my early love of wildlife was created out of the love and curiosity of the natural wild,” Chandaria said in an interview.

“I learned early in my life that once I came across a wild animal it was down on me how long that encounter would last. This meant that I had to go the extra mile into making these wonderful moments last.

He said that his meteoric rise in photography began when he acquired his first camera in 2008.

“I spent so much time in the wild from that time capturing these unforgetful moments. My photography skills grew with the information I learned via YouTube and I Tune podcasts.”

He said he was glad that the path he chose to take allowed him to cultivate his protective and caring nature.

“The photographs I’ve taken in the wild are accurate depictions of events that happened, were seen, and were captured on camera.

“Every image I create has my emotional connection to nature at its core, creating a distinctive and artistic reflection of the wild to raise awareness of the lovely wildlife we have”.

Chandaria said he joined Save Nairobi National Park to raise awareness and educate people about wild animals.

© Dodjie Mendoza
Mission Boulevard and Mowry Avenue, Fremont, Calif.

FREMONT, CA — Dodjie Mendoza snapped this beautiful photo of blue skies, palm trees and green hills in Fremont. The location of this photos is Mission Boulevard and Mowry Avenue.

Thank yoyu for sharing your photo, Dodjie!

If you have an awesome photo of nature, breath-taking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny, or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.

We’re looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty and fun that is Northern California, and that show off your unique talents.

Email it to [email protected].

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The article Blue Skies Over Fremont: Photo Of The Day appeared first on Fremont Patch.

James Van Der Beek celebrated his 46th birthday recently with those who mean the most to him: his wife and their six children.

The “Dawson’s Creek” alum shared a photo of himself and his kiddos to Instagram on Wednesday alongside a poetic caption in which he said “middle-age rocks.”

“46 trips around the sun…” he wrote. “I’ve been feeling into a new relationship with time, lately. I used to try to bend it to my will: Speed it up, squeeze more into it, short cut it. Or panic at its passing. Or just ignore it altogether.

“But recently, I’ve found myself happier the more I’m in touch with reverence, and deference to time. Yes, it CAN be stretched. It can fly…” he continued. “But this planet, this dimension, is governed by time: Trees grow at their pace. The earth spins at a near constant. And the more reverence I can find for all of it, the more life becomes a living prayer of appreciation. For life. For nature. For the great cosmic mystery of which we can sometimes can catch the edges.”

Van Der Beek said that in coming to this realization, he found it became “easier … to root in the present, open to the perfection of a process I was never meant to control.”

His wife Kimberly Van Der Beek, whom he married in 2010, also shared an Instagram post for her husband’s special day, calling him a “safe space” for their little ones.

“@vanderjames, the safe space for all these daughters of yours to be fully embodied, the safe space for our sons to be vulnerable in who they are, sensitivities, strength, kindness… my person and partner in life — the one that I untether and rebraid with,” she wrote.

“I love you. The kids love you. We are all so grateful for you and who you are,” she continued. “Happy 46th birthday!”

She added, “And might I add…. you’re the hottest you’ve ever been. Ever.”

The Van Der Beek family relocated from California to Texas in 2020.

During the pandemic lockdown, many of us dealt with increased anxiety and depression, given the uncertainty surrounding our lives as we had known them and the state of the world. Some COVID-safe coping mechanisms became popular, such as outdoor activities and walks and homebound hobbies such as gardening and baking.

As we transitioned back to conventional work schedules and lifestyles, we have tried to maintain some of these practices and revisit the peace they brought us while now being short on time again.

So how can we balance the urgencies of capitalistic society calling us back to business while trying not to forget the better lessons of pandemic living, i.e., the need for self-care and self-appreciation? A couple of recent trends involve efficient mashups of mindfulness-related techniques but in time-efficient bursts, often enabled by technology or modern commerce.

Mindfulness is an increasingly popular term for a therapeutic technique that emphasizes attention to the present without critique or intensive thought, or judgment. It originates in Zen Buddhist philosophy and practices, where monks are trained to meditate, usually in peaceful, natural settings. They focus solely on benign, essential things like breath, heartbeat, or other simple sensations or sounds.

Most of us do not have time or inclination to live the ascetic isolated lifestyle of a Buddhist monk, but we can still incorporate aspects of the mindset into any free moment. Numerous phone apps now provide brief meditation and mindfulness training with an easy-to-use and time-limited interface. But we can also do even simpler things that don’t require directive training or external guidance.

One thing I started doing during my pandemic walks was using my iPhone to take snapshots of anything that caught my eye. Usually, scenes of nature, buds blooming, sunlight hitting a retention pond, geese flaring their wings, unusual cloud formations, you name it. Nothing earth-shattering or original, but that was okay. Taking each photo helped me feel like, at that moment, I was solely focused on the beauty of something ordinary and every day, something I walked by daily without previously noticing.

When I posted those photos to social media, I was surprised by how often they would get likes. I realized other people were also sharing in that moment of beauty in the ordinary, creating peace in their busy Facebook or Twitter timelines. It enhanced my appreciation for the neighborhood I lived in (and was somewhat even trapped in) as I found new angles and objects to capture, even if the routes I took were the same day in and day out. There also was no emphasis on fancy techniques or equipment, or expertise. I just wanted to take pretty pictures and share them, and that was enough for everyone.

When tragic news hit my household in late 2021, I did not stop the walks or the photographs. If anything, I desperately continued them as though they were the sole beacons of solace and constancy I had left. Their simplicity helped me ride through stormy waves of grief as I snapped and posted each placid scene, searching for some brief calm amid falling shards of sorrow. I have continued practicing to maintain hope and beauty in the darkness.

Other similar practices don’t even have to involve the outdoors or major interruptions of routine. In South Korea, a trend called “hitting mung” has arisen, where cafes are set up with vibrant video visuals or music while one sips a coffee or tea as a form of mini-meditation during the conventional coffee break. This setup is designed to encourage a “mung” state of mind, which roughly translates to a harmonious blankness in thought. The Danish are also known for encouraging a similar café culture tied to the concept of hygge, which roughly translates to coziness. The practice of a simple coffee with a delicious pastry is considered a therapeutic way to cope with dark winters.

While one concern remains, our societal inability to emphasize work-life balance and avoid burnout in our cost-driven schedules, it doesn’t hurt to implement these stopgap methods for momentary peace and self-care when we can and empower ourselves to emphasize and take charge of our well-being whenever possible. It is nice to know that a brief and simple option for some relief is available, as long as we “zen” into it.