The calming effect of nature: the pictures of the week week 16

Peace and quiet can be experienced in different ways. However, nature is a place where you can often experience it. A forest, a lake or the nearest nature reserve are probably the best places to discover tranquillity.

Our pictures of the week show that tranquillity is an essential part of nature.

I wonder who's coming to dinner today? is the title of this photo by Bernd Schwarmann (BerndBA). "There are already lots of spiders and insects in our natural garden this spring. The list spiders are quite tolerant if you approach them with a camera. The photo was taken freehand between blades of grass. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to capture the subsequent hunting scenes due to the lightning-fast movements," says the photographer about how the picture was taken.

The wait-and-see attitude before the spider pounces on its prey is fascinating and looks very calm. The blades of grass in the foreground also frame the animal. The difference in colour to the stone it is sitting on also creates a nice contrast and makes it stand out in great detail.

The photo by flashcube entitled Wildwechsel has an elegant effect. The attentive behaviour of the stags and deer signals a moment of silence in which the animals are trying to find out who or what is approaching them. Only the silhouettes of the herd are visible through the fog, which also lends the picture its charm. It's easy to imagine seeing a scene like this on a country road in the morning.

The painting Color Explosion by Karin Mans (kmans) is very colorful and intense. Despite the many color accents, a calm atmosphere can also be felt here. The bright colors contribute to this, as does the cute dog. The photographer on her intention: "My idea was a colorful picture, immersed in a spring-like sea of flowers. The picture should radiate cheerfulness, the joy of spring and the approaching summer. I also wanted to show [...] that the photographer's perspective makes a big difference. Without destroying anything, it looks as if Sheltie Lady Jette is standing in the flowers and yet she is only on one path".

"The idea was to capture this unique atmosphere of peace and relaxation during my vacation at Lake Chiemsee. So I went to this spot very early with my daughter. It was definitely worth it," says Mario Meßer (Secundannte) about his photo entitled Silent Buildings No. 23.

He has succeeded in capturing this atmosphere. The setting sun in the background creates a beautiful color and brightness gradient, which together with the smooth water surface results in a beautiful reflection.

At first glance, the picture Seagull approaching by gallery photographer camera66 appears confusing. However, the minimalist design and the birds almost disappearing in the movement create a certain calm in the picture and allow you to concentrate on the seagull, which is still the most recognizable.

"On my visit to a North Sea island in February, I saw in a small harbour that fishing boats were wildly swarmed by seagulls when they came back from fishing. One or two gulls did not take part in the swarming and the big 'feeding'. They fascinated me with the lightness of their flight, they literally sailed and watched the gull flock. I focused my camera on this seagull and photographed it," he reports on the shooting situation.

Peter Bielstein talks about his photo walk, during which the squirrel photo was taken: "The idea came about because I wanted to photograph squirrels in the park. The way it turned out was that the squirrel was constantly getting food and had placed itself at the top of the tree. As the sun was just right and the light was perfect, I immediately took the opportunity to take a photo.

The light in the background, as described above, really highlights the animal. It is also framed by the surrounding branches. Details and subtleties are clearly visible in the fur as well as on the ears and hands. The squirrel's eye serves as a fixed point for the viewer's gaze.

The mountain landscape in the picture Alpenallee by Martin Ruopp appears empty of people and very calm. The linear arrangement of the trees provides a clear structure and division of the picture. The composition is supported by the colour of the setting sun and the dark clouds in the upper part, which create a pleasant balance. The scene is reflected in the surface of the water, which is also coloured orange.

The photographer reports on how the picture was taken: "The 2 km long avenue of poplars catches your eye as soon as you drive up to Reichenau. As there was a foehn wind and the Alps were close enough to touch, I hoped to be able to photograph the avenue in front of the Alpine chain in the early morning and was not disappointed".

(vat)