Let’s be honest — most people go into nature for the big stuff. Mountains. Lakes. Sunsets. But not me. I’m the kind of person who stops mid-walk because a bug with a shiny back or a flower with weird shape called me to inspect it like it's some alien artifact. Yes, I’m that person who’s always ten steps behind the group, holding a phone close to a leaf, mumbling, “Wow, look at this little guy.” I never planned to become a nature paparazzi. It just happened. One day I was walking by the pond, and there was this tiny green bug (I still don’t know what kind of beetle it was, if you know, let me know please) sitting like royalty on a blade of grass. The whole world blurred behind it, and there it was — shiny, round, and so still, like it was posing. I took the photo, and in that moment I understood: nature doesn’t need to be loud to be amazing.
And then it started — the collection. Each walk became a mission. I don’t always know what I’m photographing, but I know I must photograph it. A flower that looks like it's wearing a cloak? Click. A fluffy seedhead that looks like it came from a Dr. Seuss book? Click. A bug that might be a villain in a tiny insect movie? Double click. Double like. 😁 Some people ask me, “But why insects? Aren’t they creepy?” And I say, “No, they are small, magical, and they mind their business better than humans.” Honestly, they have better fashion too. Have you ever seen the patterns on a beetle’s back? Or the way a spider spins its web right when the sun is hitting it just perfect? That’s design skills, my friend. Of course, not all encounters are glamorous. I’ve gotten strange looks from people while I squat on the ground, zooming in on a red bug that no one else even noticed. One time, a guy walked by and said, “You okay there?” I nodded and whispered, “Just photographing a bug,” like it was the most normal thing ever. Maybe for me, it is.
What I love the most is that nature doesn’t rush. The flower will bloom when it wants. The bug will walk where it wants. And if I’m lucky, I’ll be there with my camera (okay, phone, cause I'm a lazyass to bring camera with me) in hand to catch the moment. It’s like a tiny secret between me and the world — look closer, slow down, and you’ll see a thousand small wonders.
This little hobby became more than just photos — it became lifestyle. When I focus on something so small, my big worries suddenly shrink. Nature has this way of pulling you into the now. And isn’t that what we all need a bit more?
So next time you go for a walk, maybe slow down. Look under the leaf. Notice the way that wild flower is not perfect, but still beautiful. And if you see someone kneeling on the ground, eyes glued to a twig — it’s probably me. Say hi or just smile and step over me gently. I might be tracking the next big star of my nature gallery. 😊