I see things like leaves and flowers differently now. They are animate to me, possessing their own spirits and stories, souls if you will. So when I photograph them, it’s as if I’m doing a portrait, and they reveal themselves to me, and my camera and lenses. When the late afternoon light hits them just so, they are even more emotional and revealing. This afternoon, I was mesmerized by a sunflower across from the farmhouse., the light catching individual buds and bringing this powerful flower to life.