Botanicals

Juried by Lee Anne White

Juror’s Statement | Botanical

Reviewing submissions for Botanical: Flora of the World evoked a sense of curiosity,
mystery, inspiration and joy. It became immediately clear that this show was about
diversity—both in the plant world and in terms of photographic styles and processes.
Plants and trees were photographed in the wild, in the garden, in the home and in the
studio. Photographs were made with and without cameras; digitally and with film; in
color and black and white; using innovative contemporary, historic and alternative
processes; and integrating intentional camera movement, multiple exposures and mixed
media.

Alys Walker Tinson’s Inner Circle is seductive, pulling us into the mesmerizing inner
world of an anemone—it’s crown of stamens surrounding a gathering of tightly packed
pistils. The subtle light, camera angle, softy focused petals and shimmering flowerhead
reveal the beauty and ingenuity of nature’s design. Pamela Moore’s As Darkness Fell
transports us into a dreamscape—an imagined world of flowers and foliage. And Joseph
Gattulli’s wet cyanotype photogram delights with a unique range of colors, shapes and
textures.

In addition to creative vision and technical excellence, I found that I was drawn to
images that conveyed the personality of plants—their unique characteristics, their
determination to survive in unlikely places or, perhaps, a sense of gesture or
expression. Thanks to all who submitted their photographs for review and to Decagon
Gallery for championing the work of photographers.

—Lee Anne White

September 2025

Alys Walker Tinson

Béziers, France
Inner Circle

I was once affectionately referred to as The Flower Whisperer—a title I would happily adopt with pride, given that my all-consuming passion lies in creating macro floral fine art. My work is known for its vivid use of colour and attention to detail. Each composition is created with the aim of drawing attention to the enchanting, often overlooked beauty, hidden within nature’s most delicate forms.

Joseph Gattulli

Plainview, NY
Untitled #54

Joseph Gattulli is a passionate photographer born and bred on Long Island, New York. His artistic journey began with a fascination for the interplay of textures and layers in the world around him. As he honed his craft, Gattulli developed a unique style characterized by abstract compositions that play with light and shadow to create depth and intrigue. Growing up in the diverse landscapes of Long Island, Gattulli found inspiration in the everyday scenes that others might overlook. From the weathered façade of an old building to the delicate dance of light filtering through leaves, he captures moments that reveal the beauty of imperfection. What sets Gattulli's work apart is his keen eye for the human aspect of the world. His photographs often feature subtle hints of humanity-a lone figure in a vast landscape, a fleeting expression caught in a candid moment-that invite viewers to connect on a deeper level. Gattulli's process is a blend of technical precision and artistic intuition. He experiments with different techniques, from long exposures to multiple exposures, to create images that transcend the ordinary. Through meticulous attention to detail and a willingness to embrace experimentation, he crafts visual narratives that invite viewers to see the world through his eyes. In his pursuit of visual storytelling, Gattulli finds inspiration in the works of masters like Ansel Adams, whose mastery of light and composition continues to influence his approach. He also draws from contemporary artists who push the boundaries of photography, reminding him to constantly evolve and innovate. Gattulli's portfolio is a testament to his versatility and creativity. From sweeping landscapes that evoke a sense of awe to intimate portraits that capture the essence of a moment, each image invites viewers to pause, reflect, and find their own meaning within the frame. For Gattulli, photography is not just a medium of expression but a means of fostering connection and understanding in an ever-changing world. As he continues to explore new horizons and push the boundaries of his art, Joseph Gattulli remains dedicated to capturing the beauty, complexity, and humanity of the world through his lens. His work serves as a reminder that in a world of fleeting moments, photography has the power to immortalize the profound and the ephemeral alike.

Juleah Claar

Waedenswil, Switzerland
Meadow Daydream

I'm Leah, an American photographer working in both digital and 35mm film. While my work spans a range of genres—including street, travel, abstract, and minimalism—I have a special connection to blooms and botanicals. There’s something enduring and grounding in photographing the natural world, especially the quiet details of plant life. My background in anthropology and years spent living abroad have shaped how I see—attuned to patterns, rituals, and the ways people interact with their environments. Since relocating to Switzerland in 2016, the surrounding landscapes and seasons have deepened my appreciation for nature as both subject and collaborator. Whether capturing the layered textures of a flower or the spontaneous rhythm of a city street, my approach balances technical precision with curiosity and care. I use both film and digital to explore light, form, and emotion—always seeking images that feel honest and immersive. My work has been exhibited internationally, featured by over 160 platforms, and recognized in global photography competitions. I’ve also dedicated a portfolio area specifically to ‘Blooms,’ reflecting their ongoing presence and inspiration in my practice.

KM Smith

Solana Beach, CA
Debut

"One Sqare Meter" During the Covid pandemic, travel was curtailed and most of us found ourselves isolating at home. This was especially difficult for landscape artists who revel in the grandeur of nature. Looking for inspiration one day, I stumbled upon a single square meter of succulents growing right outside my back door. This collection is an exercise in slowing down and appreciating the normally overlooked. There truly is beauty in the form and texture that surrounds us.

Cindy Mathias

New York, NY
Canna Sunrise

I am a photographer who is driven to capture the abstract in nature and its compositional possibilities. The intricate patterns and vibrant hues of the Canna plant have inspired me to create this series of photographic botanical abstraction. My current work includes botanicals, landscapes, waterscapes, reflections and whatever I am moved by at the moment.

Ryker Black

Olympia, WA
Unbound

Ryker is a queer trans man, multidisciplinary artist and poet whose practice spans mixed media, photography, painting and digital art. He holds a BFA in Graphic Design from MassArt and has worked professionally in the field for over 20 years. His creative work extends beyond the studio, encompassing community-engagement installations, murals, publications and group exhibitions. His work is rooted in themes of identity, the trans experience, queerness and the human condition. Through his art, Ryker creates opportunities for self-discovery and connection, inviting viewers to reflect on their inner landscapes. He believes in art's power to heal, transform and create meaningful connections-both within communities and on a personal level. His work seeks to empower others to explore new dimensions of identity and reimagine their place in the world.

Roger Archibald

Quincy, MA
Leaf Veins

I like to think that my photography is simply an illustration of my life. In the fifty years or so that I’ve been serious about it, I’ve pretty much always been accompanied by a camera wherever I go, now especially true in the era of mobile phone cameras. I first became intrigued by the possibility in pictures as an enlisted sailor in the U.S. Navy assigned to an aircraft carrier serving in southeast Asia, then later during shore duty in Vietnam. Photographs seemed the best medium to explain to people back home what I was experiencing overseas, and also a means of creating visual notes that I could refer back to down the road. Once out of the service, I pursued the same interest back in college on the GI Bill, where I served as photo editor of the student newspaper. Later on, during years of struggling to build freelance success, I worked nights in a photo lab developing and proofing film, while trying to land photo assignments during the day. Eventually I came to realize that it was the things that I enjoyed most doing that I enjoyed most photographing, at which point I embarked on a bit more adventurous career serving with U.S, Govt. land management agencies as both a park ranger and a wildland firefighter, and then later as a seaman on seagoing sailing vessels. I’ve tried to reflect that background in the choice of images I’m submitting here.

Deborah Ness

Baltimore, MD
Standouts

When I was a child, my parents gave me a Kodak camera. I took pictures of our cat, our family, the outdoors and always brought the camera along on road trips my parents used to take on the spur of the moment. I eventually graduated to a SLR camera and then to a 2 1/4 size camera. But learning to develop and print my own black and white and color images took my love of photography to a new level where I was able to develop my vision and aesthetic creativity. Making, developing, and printing black and white and color film became the foundation for my transition to working with digital cameras and reluctantly abandoning the darkroom for a computer. My photographic areas of interest include nature, cityscapes, street photography, travel photography, and abstract. I explore how I, as the photographer/observer, inform the subject I capture through my lens. I strive to focus on details, patterns, colors, emotions, and possibilities that can be communicated through this ever changing and powerful medium.

Elizabeth Sanjuan

Delray Beach, FL
Poppy 4

Elizabeth Sanjuan is a visual artist whose passion is to discover, through travel, the vast mosaic of people, lands and cultures that the world offers; and to record, as faithfully as she can, the incredible panorama of color, pattern and energy that bombards the receptive eye. Photography gives her the opportunity to observe, but she believes that the lens intensifies her ability to truly understand the world we live in. She ranges worldwide, and draws on imagery that includes not only people, but the natural and man-made surroundings that define and shape our cultures and our communities. For Elizabeth, the camera provides objective proof of the remarkable commonality of humankind; and reinforces the urgent need to protect the cultural and environmental heritage that define us all.

Yukiko Okuma

New York, NY
Grace in Letting Go

My photography journey began when I retired and we entered into the chaos of the pandemic. During this time I returned to my roots where nature and flowers offered a sanctuary. The natural world, the relationships of balance and motion, allowed me to understand the fluidity of life while attempting to stay grounded. The world outside my little safe bubble was full of loss and sadness, and yet I found solace and laughter through nature’s endless variations in lines, shapes, color, and composition. Life unfolds in the space between presence and absence, between being and not-being. This state of existence—hovering between the two—has always guided me through my life experiences, shaping my perceptions, emotions, and creative pursuits. The people who have come and gone from my life, and the lessons learned from joy and sorrow all exist within me, shaping who I am today. It is in this in-between space that I have discovered my truest self. In my current journey I continue to explore themes of duality, where a single image can embody opposing truths - reflecting my inner experiences, uncertainties, and imagination. My photography explores the tension between what was, what will be, and the fragile balance in between. While some may view this as unsettling, I accept this as a source of my inspiration.

Gerrit Van Ommering

Gold River, CA
Fantasy Camellia a la O'Keeffe

My work straddles the boundary between photography and invention. While I enjoy traditional image-making, my passion lies in transforming the ordinary into the unexpected-through radical manipulation, layering, and instinct- driven experimentation. I'm drawn to patterns, forms, and anomalies that other photographers might overlook, using them as raw material for complex, dreamlike visuals. In an age flooded with conventional imagery, I strive to create photographs that stand out-images that cause the viewer to pause, wonder, and ask, "What is that?" or "How did he do that?" Nevertheless, most of the pieces I've selected for "Botanicals" are representational but use techniques and refinements that isolate and highlight the subjects to emphasize, for focus and impact, their unique appearance. They explore the infinite ways plants reveal both structure and spirit, from the fragile grace of blossoms to the resilient rhythm of desert trees. Each image isolates a moment of growth, bloom, or renewal, transforming botanical subjects into luminous forms of art.

Maryam Ghasempour Siahgaldeh

Manhattan, KS
Blooming

My work explores the presence of flowers as both a visual and spiritual element in human life. In Iranian art, especially in Tailing patterns, flowers carry deep cultural memory and symbolize beauty, resilience, and renewal. Through photographing flowers, their shadows, and their delicate patterns, I reflect on how human existence is tied to the natural world. Flowers remind us of fragility but also of continuity, they grow, bloom, fade, and return, just as our own lives do. By focusing on these forms, I want to create a space where viewers can pause and recognize how much we depend on flowers, not only for survival but also for meaning, hope, and connection.

Judy Brachi

East Cowes, United Kingdom
Troubled Waters

I am a digital collage artist and photographer based on the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of the UK. My practice is rooted in the natural world, and I work with my own photographs of wildflowers, insects, and birds, gathered from meadows, gardens, and coastal landscapes. These become the raw material for layered digital collages that blur the line between realism and imagination, botanical precision and dreamlike narrative.Layering allows me to weave together fragments of place, time, and memory. The resulting works invite viewers to look closely at the resilience and beauty of plants, while also hinting at the ecological relationships that sustain them. In this way, my images are both celebratory and reflective: they honour the abundance of flora while acknowledging its fragility.I am a digital collage artist and photographer based on the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of the UK. Surrounded by meadows, gardens, and the ever-changing shoreline, I am constantly drawn to the quiet resilience and intricate beauty of wildflowers, insects, and birds. These are the subjects I photograph and then transform into layered digital collages. Each composition is built from dozens of my own images, meticulously arranged to create works that hover between realism and imagination, detail and dream. My process of layering is both intuitive and deliberate. It allows me to weave together fragments of time and place, to suggest not just what is seen but what is remembered, imagined, or felt. Through this approach I hope to re-enchant the familiar, encouraging viewers to pause and consider the living presences of plants, their role in ecosystems, and their enduring symbolism in human culture. The work is celebratory but also reflective, balancing abundance with an awareness of fragility. My practice has been recognised internationally. In 2024 I was awarded Winner of the Art Unlimited International Open Art Competition for Other Dreams, received an Honourable Mention in the ND Awards for Fine Art Manipulation, and was Highly Commended in the International Garden Photographer of the Year for Passing Storm. I was also honoured to be a nominee in the Fine Art Photography Awards for both Splash and the series The Summons. In 2025, The Summons was selected for exhibition in the international open call Time Folded.These recognitions affirm my ongoing exploration of nature’s quiet power, and my belief that flowers and plants are more than ornament—they are vital, enduring presences that shape both our environment and our imagination.

Kellie Carter

Newcastle, OK
The Ballerinas

Botanical photography has been a passion of mine since day one of picking up a camera. Simply because flowers show us that there still is beauty in this world, no matter how bad things are, flowers still grow and show us how true perfection grows out of this earth everyday. ALL photos tell a story, no matter how simple or complex they are, each has a story to tell and a flower on a black background takes out all other distractions, so the viewer sees only the perfection in each curve.

Andrea Zinn

Brooklyn, NY
Chiaroscuro Tulips

I’m a Brooklyn-based photographer working from a home studio. In March of 2020, as New York City went into lockdown, like many others I became an “artist-in-residence” in my own home. A large drafting table next to a window in an upstairs room became the center of my photography as I began to work on a new series of still life photographs. My initial influence was the 17th century Dutch still life paintings. I was drawn to the quality of the light, which led to my decision to only shoot in natural light. I was also intrigued by the contrast between the beauty and lushness of the subjects with the underlying hints that what is pictured is just a fleeting moment in time. The still life project is a meditation on the nature of cycles. The daily and seasonal cycle of the sun and the seasonal changes in the light as the trees in front of my windows bud and leaf and change color have become an integral part of each set of photographs.

Carlos Esguerra

Elmhurst, NY
Lotus Reflection on Water 1682

I am a landscape and architecture photographer. I want to show the beauty of nature and the genius of man-made structures through my photography. I strive to capture this beauty with the least number of elements and present them in a simple, contemplative view. When people look at my photographs, I want them to feel in awe of the beauty of our world and the artistry of human-inspired architecture. I appreciate these treasures, and I share them through photography. Ansel Adams said, “Photography is a creative art. Do not take a photograph; you make it.” I do photography to fulfill my desire to create art. I share this art through solo and group exhibitions.

Steven Cushing

Atlanta, GA
New Orleans Botanical

My "Botanical" creative work is inspired by Gary Zukav's 1979 Book The Dancing Wu Li Masters, which explores modern physics research. Zukav draws metaphors from Eastern spiritual movements, particularly the Huayen school of Buddhism. In an Eastern approach, physics is not separated from the natural world. The common term for physics in Chinese is Wu Li, which translates to "Patterns of Organic Energy". The idea that nature is coherent with physics resonated and has stayed with me, informing my botanical images with a vision of expanding energy in organic patterns that move outward while living and remain visible even in decline and entropy.

Jeff Gracz

Vancouver, WA
Japanese Maple with Fallen Leaves

I am a self-taught fine art photographer from Vancouver, WA. When I was a teenager, my Mom inherited a small amount of money and told me to "go out and buy something fun". So I bought a camera and a few rolls of film. I went out to the rural countryside and immediately started arranging all the shapes, forms, lines, and colors, within the rectangular shaped viewfinder.When I got those negatives back from the processor and held them up to the light, there was an immediate connection - I knew that this was something that I had to do. So I kept at it. The more I images I shot, the more mistakes I made, the more I wanted to do it. The insistent drive never stopped. So here it is decades later and the insistence continues. I am still journeying through the chaos of the natural world, in hopes of restoring order within the confines of that rectangle. To create that elusive perfect image, while spending some quality time with the greater powers that be.Throughout my tenure as a photographer, I have seen myself gradually pick away at extraneous and distracting elements of an image. As a result, my images are becoming more abstract and less literal. I am getting to the point where the balance between pure design elements is more important than the actual object itself. The object is reduced to a mere supporting role, only existing to communicate the design elements. This has been my trajectory for some time now and is at the core of my artistic journey.