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Last week, I posted about NANPA’s Nature Photography Day. The premise is to connect, or reconnect, with the natural world that’s local to you.

Too often nature photographers associate “nature” with a location. I freely admit that I’m guilty in that regard. I do so much of my shooting in Yosemite that I often forget to look for images closer to home. Yesterday’s event was a good reminder that even if you’re stuck in the suburbs there is still nature around you. Birds, gardens and a myriad of small fuzzy creatures are sharing your neighborhood. When was the last time you stopped and paid attention?

My ‘day gig’ kept me very busy yesterday so when I got home last night, I grabbed the camera and headed out into the yard. After looking around, I settled on this image. Not only is it nature, in my own yard, it’s locally grown organic food. These golden beets made the perfect subject and a very adequate reminder that nature starts at home.

To make this image I grabbed my Canon 7D and 15mm fisheye lens. I knew that I wanted the shot to be “in the dirt” which is why I grabbed the fisheye. I love the perspective the lens gives when placed low and close to the subject. Used with the 7D I don’t get the full 180 degree field of view but that camera lets me use live view to compose via the LCD.  Without the use of live view there’s no way I’d have gotten the shot in such tight quarters.

As an added bonus, the beets are delicious.

Cheers