Bolt on a wooden door with a flower tucked into it
Lens-Artists,  Photographic techniques,  Themed galleries,  Travel in general

Gallery: finding beauty in unexpected places

October 20, 2024 / 54 Comments

To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. . . I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.

Elliott Erwin

I’ve used that quotation before, but it bears repeating. One thing photography teaches us is that there are opportunities for images in the most unlikely places. Carrying a camera we see things differently, noticing not just the most obvious and beautiful scenes but also the potential in the less obvious.

I was away when Patti led the Lens Artists challenge with the intriguing theme of ‘Finding beauty in unexpected places’. But I didn’t feel I could let this one pass me by, as it’s something I most enjoy doing with my camera in hand. As I don’t have an archive of ICM shots for this week’s challenge from Anne, nor the time and weather to go out and shoot some, I’m taking the opportunity to revisit this theme instead. I’m trusting the Lens Arts team will forgive me!

I’m starting with a handful of images from my very recent visit to northern California, followed by some favourites from my archive. My feature photo was taken in Bandipur, Nepal: a beautiful flower tucked into the lock of an old door.

Spider's web with raindrops

We visited Fort Ross SP to see the old fort buildings (post to follow). But there was a typical northern California coastal sea fret that day and I was struck by the many delicate spiders’ webs alongside the path to the fort.

Seaweed on a log

The coastal views and waves at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg were impressive, but I also found lots of lovely details among the driftwood, including this strand of seaweed arranged almost like a starfish.

Rusting metal machinery

I can never resist old rusting machinery and this part of the Dolbeer Steam Donkey (used for hauling logs) at Fort Humboldt SP, also on the California coast, is a great example.

Rusting piece of metal

Here’s some more rusty old machinery, this time at Hurst Point Lighthouse in Hampshire, England.

Side of a painted boat with patch of new wood

I liked the contrast of old wood and new on this boat in a boatyard near Ouseburn, Newcastle, north east England.

Paint flaking off a wall

Proof that you don’t need to go far to find these unexpected touches of beauty; I came across this peeling paint just around the corner from our home in Ealing, west London.

Plastered wall with bricks exposed

More peeling paint plus distressed plaster on an old house in Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde,

Another interesting (to me!) wall, this one in Havana, Cuba.

Wall with patches of paint, cement and brickwork
Lamp on a rough wall

Cartagena is full of colour but I was also drawn to the monochrome simplicity of this wall and lamp.

Shelves of cups, books and a kettle

Stopping for coffee in Getsemani in Cartagena, I was rather taken with this collection of cups and other odd items on the shelves above my husband’s head!

Small pieces of food arranged in compartments

The Japanese make even the simplest thing look beautiful, like the arrangement of food items in this bento box, bought at a train station stall.

Shelf with paints and paintbrush

I expected to find beauty inside Frida Kahlo’s home in Coyoacán, in her art and decorative style, but isn’t this simple display beautiful in its own way too?

Corrugated metal painted with baobab trees

The villagers living here on the outskirts of Antsiranana in northern Madagascar may have to use the simplest of materials to build their homes, but that hasn’t stopped them from making them look beautiful.

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