Nancy Ridenour’s digital photography captures incredible detail, texture, and the perfect beauty of her floral subjects. To see more of her art, visit her website.
I am a digital photographer who focuses on capturing the beauty and essence of botanicals. I particularly enjoy the detail revealed by macro lenses. Each flower has its own character, some soft and comforting, others bold and assertive.
I grew up in a florist family and was surrounded all year with floral elegance and aromas. That background led me to pursue a career in teaching high school biology, with strong emphasis on the roles of botanicals in our lives. Upon retirement, I took photography classes at a local community college and developed a renewed interest in expanding my expertise.
I am inspired by the softness of light in the morning as it rests on the flowers in my garden. The afternoon sun involves back lighting and a different hue to the floral image. I take photographs in personal and public gardens as well as within my studio. I have been nurtured and encouraged by comments in social media and at my photography shows.
My goals are to convey the beauty and details of my subject to the viewer to increase their sensitivity for the life and world around us. I photograph flowers, birds, architecture, and sculptures to use as objects themselves or as part of digital montages that I construct. The montages are a visual puzzle put together in a pleasing format to bring pleasure to the viewer.
I would like to obtain gallery support and recognition for my photography and to continue to grow as a creative photographer.
At present, I am working on flower macro photography. My gardens, nurtured by my family florist background, are a source of peace and beauty. I photograph the delicate flowers each morning, with the soft light of the rising sun. In the afternoon, I am able to catch the backlit beauty of the petals.
While in Florida in the winter, I pursue the large Florida birds to photograph them at their best, both visually and interesting behaviors. These birds are elegant and a tremendous joy to observe and photograph, especially at rookeries where they are preparing to raise their families.
Architecture and sculpture have always been of interest. I have fashioned garden sculptures after inspirations from Picasso. On the digital side, I take photographs of sculptures, digitally dissect them, and arrange them on a digital canvas to be printed.
Life inspires me. I taught biology for thirty two years and was awed by the beauty of nature and the complexity and diversity that has evolved over time. The changing seasons and availability of light inspire me to seek unique situations to photograph my subjects. When I visit museums, I am inspired by other artists’ works. I study them and reflect upon how I could incorporate their techniques into my work.
Artist Nancy Ridenour invites you to follow her on Facebook and her blog.
Stunning images of some of my favorite flowers. Thanks for sharing.
Judy
I love the nuance and how the light draws my eye deeper into the mandala of the flower. It is just what we need in these troubling times.