I headed out for a simple morning walk and was greeted by a quiet surprise, the leaves in the garden were jeweled with fresh dew. I must have slept through a heavy rain sometime before dawn, because every surface carried small silver domes, like the night had paused and left its breath behind.
I’ve always found raindrops a little magical, but today they felt extra cinematic. The way they sit on a leaf, holding shape, bending light, revealing the veins beneath, makes even an ordinary plant look dressed for a portrait. I moved slowly, testing angles, letting the soft daylight skim across the droplets so they’d glow on the darker tones of the foliage.
As usual, I leaned into black and white. Color can be lovely, but monochrome turns raindrops into tiny mirrors and pushes the texture forward, bright highlights, deep shadows, and all those delicate mid-tones in between. On a broad leaf, the beads looked like constellations. On thinner leaves, they traced the ribs like notes on a staff. I tried to catch them before a breeze or a curious ant sent them tumbling.
It’s a small thing, but starting the day with a scene like this changes the mood. The air was cool, the garden felt freshly washed, and the camera gave me a reason to pay attention. Moments like these remind me why I keep shooting, there’s always beauty hiding in something simple, if I’m willing to look closely and wait for the light.
~ Andri Cauldwell
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