The Beauty of the Arboretum: Dew on Alstromeria Aurea

Project Statement 

This collection of photos has been a long-running project that began with my documentation of how dew collected on Alstromeria aurea in the UC Davis Arboretum after a series of 2023 Northern California rainstorms. Using my Canon T7 with a Tamron 18 to 400 mm f/3.5-6.3 lens, I would spend hours combing the plants for interesting dew drop compositions. It just continued to fascinate me how diverse the arrangement of drops on the leaves could be, and thus, my photographic journey to capture this natural, diverse beauty began. Much like snowflakes, dewdrops form unique arrangements on the waxy outsides of the plant's leaves. Such uniqueness and variety are a testament to the diversity found among all life on Earth. 

As a photographer and cell biologist, the small things in life have always fascinated me. I hope that this collection of images can inspire others to look closer at the small details of the natural world and appreciate the radiant beauty of our planet. 

About the Author: Ainsley Alsbury

Ainsley Alsbury is a Californian photographer who is greatly inspired by the natural beauty of her home state. Her black and white, as well as color, photography captures small details that go unnoticed by most; the play of shadows and light, the graceful cradle of dew in the folds of a leaf, the gorgeous twists and turns of tree branches shaped by years of wind. Due to Ainsley's fascination with the beauty of small things, she is pursuing a degree in cell biology at UC Davis. Ainsley has found photography not only to be a creative outlet but a way to destress during the bustle of daily life. Her photography is a tribute to the small details that make the world a beautiful place, encouraging viewers to notice the small things in life.