What is Beautiful to You in Nature?
- Rikki Neukom
- Aug 12
- 4 min read
Sometimes the most unexpected things will spark a few moments of reflection.
For me, it was a kind comment from someone I hadn’t spoken to in years. Their words reminded me why I love photography, to be able to share the beauty I see in nature, and maybe help others see it too.
Their first word was simply: “Inspirational.” Then they went on to say something that really stayed with me about my photography:
“It’s also something that opens the world to the eyes of others, and very often we are so insulated in where we live and what we do that we forget there is a whole other world out there. Thank you for sharing this.”
It was such a compliment.
They had left this comment on a post that the Two Red Tabs Camera Bag company had shared about my photography journey and my love for nature photography.
That one comment sent me down a trail of memories, thoughts, and, eventually, into a pile of driftwood by the river… camera in hand, looking for life in unexpected places.
That got me thinking if I have always looked at the world this way? Well, I know it hasn’t been all of the time. I spent many years out in nature with the girls, making sure they didn’t get hurt. (Hahaha, not the most slow-paced kind of exploring.)
Still, I think I did look at the world like this, but maybe not in such an obvious way.
More in a "natural" way.
Since my twenties, I’ve often said, “Nature is my church.” For me, there’s no greater proof that something bigger than us exists than watching the rhythm of the seasons and the life cycles that play out year after year.
Spring brings new beginnings.
Summer is life in full bloom.
Fall is a time of slowing down, endings, and letting go.
Winter is a season of rest.
Whether we notice it or not, nature is always moving through these stages. There’s sadness in seeing a wildfire destroy a forest, but years later, the forest floor will be thriving with new growth and stronger than before.
A tree that falls on the forest floor because it is old and too weak provides a home for seedlings, fungi and small insects to thrive and grow. Nature works together. It accepts that life comes to an end but quickly adapts to death by creating new beginnings.
With this thought in mind I decided to do a little experiment. Now, some of you may have seen my post on the Socials about this, but I wanted to share it also on my website and to those of my readers who are not on socials or don't frequent them often.
In Okotoks, along the Sheep River there's an area of washed up trees that has gathered together, from I believe, the 2013 flood. It's a big pile of driftwood that I have walked by many times. Sometimes I see birds in there, like the Pileated Woodpecker, looking for food.
Zooming out it just looks like a pile of dead trees that was never moved, left to its own devices. The big picture, it's not really a pretty site. However, I decided to get in there and see what was "living" in this pile of dead wood. With all of the rain we have had lately, I figured there must be some action going on.
(Side note- Okotoks received over 200mm of rain in the month of July and was named the wettest city in Canada for that month. Apparently our average is just over 50mm. I have to admit that there were days I was wondering if we had moved to the West Coast.)
Instead of posting pictures like I did on Social Media I thought I would actually put a video together of these pictures, which was my original intention. Sometimes doing things backwards make sense to me.
I knew I would find some goodies. I set my brain to find beauty in patterns and textures. I thought I might find some little bits of life who had decided to start growing where there was no life at all. Of course, the different mushrooms were beautiful (in their own way). As my friend quoted "beauty in the eye of the beholder."
That driftwood pile reminded me that beauty isn’t always obvious, sometimes you have to step closer, look longer, and be willing to get a little dirt on your shoes to find it. Nature doesn’t waste anything; every ending feeds a beginning. And maybe that’s the lesson tucked inside those twisted branches and hidden mushrooms: even when something looks lifeless, there’s always the possibility of growth waiting beneath the surface. All it takes is the time, curiosity and to notice.
Have a beautiful August.
Tuning into Nature 2026 calendar has arrived!
Celebrating my 5th edition of a Scenic Calendar, this year I upgraded the paper, put together with a wire coil and I have changed up the format a bit. I am really liking this new look and I think you will like it too.
Please head to my website to purchase www.rikkineukom.com
At my shop you can also find Greeting Cards, Journals, Prints and Magnets.
You can also email me at rikkineukom@gmail.com for e-transfer orders.
I will be at the Canmore Thursday Market on
August 14th, September 4th and 11th from 10am -6pm.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rikki_neukom_photography
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RikkiNeukom
I was fortunate enough to win this camera bag at the Lightchasers Conference back in May and we have developed a great collaboration. One day I will talk more about this startup company who created this camera bag with so much thought and consideration for Nature Photographers.
See you soon!
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