New Nature Photography for Healing Spaces, Found in a Summer Garden

Give Kurt Johnson a garden and a free afternoon, and he won’t just document what’s there. He’ll go looking for a new way to see it. That’s the instinct behind this summer’s collection: a fresh set of blooms, plus a happy accident at a fountain that turned into the highlight of the whole shoot.

It started with some truly spectacular purple water lilies that seemed to be glowing from within. Each one captured the light a little differently depending on how the sun peeked through the clouds.

The garden was filled with rich colors and textures.

Things like tropical blooms, deep green leaves, a pond full of color, and a field gone a little wild.

As usual, the vibrant colors of summer didn’t disappoint.

And the surprise of the day? Water images that turned into something closer to art.

He captured a series of shots where water flowing from a fountain altered the garden behind it into something closer to a painting than a photograph.

Camera in hand, he stayed for a while and just kept watching. What started as a few test shots turned into something he couldn’t stop chasing…

… water catching the garden behind it and bending it into color, motion, and light. It barely looked like the same place but had the soothing blues and greens that work so well in healthcare environments.

It’s proof that some of the best shots come from staying open to whatever the season decides to offer, no plan required.