A few weeks ago, Mickey and I pursued outdoor photography with a visit to Inniswood Metro Gardens in Westerville, Ohio, outside the city limits of Columbus. It quickly has become my favorite park to visit and favorite outdoor photography location.

The park is filled with 10 unique and distinctive gardens. There is the Brookwood Trail Garden, the Circle Garden, the Conifer Garden, the Cutting Garden, the Fern Garden, the Herb Garden, the Memorial Garden, the Rose Garden, the Sisters’ Garden, and The Woodland Rock Garden.

There are also six trails, together adding up to 2.25 miles of walking paths. The trails loop around the gardens and are paved and well-kept.

Mickey and I walked these paths with our cameras, capturing many visual delights. There was the Rose Garden, filled with glorious rich red, hot pink, creamy white, golden peach, and rich yellow roses in full bloom. I was enchanted with the Julia Child Rose. The buttery yellow petals were a perfect choice for one of America’s most beloved cooks, who had a love affair with butter.

The Herb Garden has several gazebos, beckoning the visitor to sit and breathe in the wonders of nature. The hedges are manicured while still maintaining the vibrancy and energy of growing plants.

The Woodland Rock Garden soothes with its streams and waterfalls. The sound of gurgling water, gently bubbling over the rocks proves to be the best medicine for a weary soul—at least for my soul.

Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that I recently ran across this article on Fast Company’s website.

It turns out that if you spend just two hours a week outdoors in nature, you improve your health and outlook. From the article:

A new study looked at data from a U.K. government survey that asked nearly 20,000 people in the U.K. to track their activities for a week. Those who spent two hours in nature, whether that happened in one trip or several smaller visits to a park, were significantly more likely to report better health and well-being than those who spent less time outside. After about 200-300 total minutes outside, the effect peaked.

Fast Company, June 13, 2019, A two-hour dose of nature each week could make you happier and healthier

When you decide to head outdoors with your camera, not only are you capturing images that speak to your heart, but you’re getting some good medicine for your heart!

Outdoor photography appeals to me because I love being outdoors. Finding wooded paths or open parks with towering fir trees is a welcome treat for my soul.

There is something to be said about unplugging yourself from the technology that constantly surrounds you. I’m a writer and a marketer. But I can tell you that very rarely do my best ideas come when I’m sitting in front of my computer or reading my Kindle Fire.

Instead, inspiration comes when I give my mind room to breathe. Big ideas flock to me when I’m surrounded by nature.

And those aren’t the only benefits. I feel better after spending time outside. It allows me to appreciate the world’s beauty and fills me with wonder.

And isn’t that what we hope to capture with our images? Beauty, wonder, balance, and more? If you’re an amateur photographer like me and desire to take better photographs, try visiting your local park and nature centers. Take your time walking around while searching for that perfect shot. You’ll be giving yourself a well-deserved gift.