Inside the Photo #16


Happy Tuesday, my dear reader! Thanks for staying with me and taking the time to read my posts. As it always happens on each first Tuesday of the month, here we go with another Inside the Photo. This time, my very welcome guest is a friend I met on Vero quite some time ago. His name is Ralph.

My interest in photography began in childhood, but it’s only in recent years that I’ve had the opportunity to fully explore this hobby. I bought my first DSLR camera in 2013, marking a freshstart in an enjoyable journey of learning and creativity.

Having lived most of my life in a rural environment, I developed a love for gardening, trees, and nature. These passions inspire my photography. After completing a fulfilling career as a clinical optometrist, I now have time to approach amateur photography in a more leisurely way, incorporating it into my hobbies of gardening, biking, hiking and travel. My photography genres primarily include nature, landscape, macro and architecture.

Ralph’s images are always a breath of fresh air. His nature and flowers and trees pictures bring me to a calm and serene world, which is perfect in this crazy life we live today. But he also shares images where the power of nature is evident and reminds us how small we are in this world.

Each photo I capture evokes a unique emotion within me. The image I’ve selected for Matteo’s Inside the Photo is particularly special, reflecting the exhilaration and adrenaline I felt during its capture.

Throughout my life, the sight and sound of an approaching storm have always excited me. During my childhood in the family orchard, I experienced how quickly a storm could bring joy with much-needed rain or a sense of defeat as hail destroyed the year’s crop within minutes. Now when I sense an approaching storm, I’ll grab my camera to seek an open view of the horizon and watch the spectacle unfold. The image I’ve selected for you was taken in 2020. I heard the distant storm approach and quickly drove around the block to a neighbour’s farm. My heart was racing as I sensed the supercharged energy in this storm. I managed to take some photos before the downpour began. The storm clouds displayed some of the most intense and eerie colours I’ve ever seen.  This photo was recognized as a runner-up in the Canadian Geographic Magazine’s 35th annual photo contest in the “Our Impact” category.

For me, photography’s power lies in its ability to narrate a story and evoke profound emotions. My landscapes often convey peace, while my macros capture moments of joy. Each image I take offers a unique glimpse into the world as seen through my eyes and lens. 

Ralph is such a supportive and kind person and his images are absolutely worth your time. I recommend you have a look at his profiles at the following links:

Instagram
Vero

Thanks a lot for being my guest today, Ralph!

Take care and talk soon!