On Monday 15 June 2026, I visited the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. I was feeling quite lost and disconnected with the world and myself on this day. As I internally screamed, I forced myself to take this adventure by myself. I remember feeling moved by the creatures around me. Creatures that were tall, still, colourful, fragrant, mysterious, rare, fluttering, moving, loud, and shimmering. The winter sun just perfectly soft. The longing shadows imperfectly dramatic. A reminder that nature is the ultimate healer of all, as my heart surrendered to it's timeless and unbound care for all of its inhabitants.
Here are some photos I took on that day and some words/feelings about them. You may notice that these photos are not what you would expect from a botanical gardens. A very astute observation. Joking aside, I am very chuffed with them. A happy outcome as this were taken on Harman Red film. This is the first time I tried using this film and I am glad I experimented. It is a redscale film that flips a regular colour negative film so that light enters back to front, activating different wavelengths within the film emulsion.
A formidable, caring, and generous tree. I felt hugged.I think this is my favourite shot. I loved the shadows. I was spooked by how the tree shadows laid on the footpath.I wanted to dive into that ocean from this spot. The sun shone on the water. Shimmering.This seat was overlooking the ocean. I felt moved by the beauty of this place.This mini rainforest felt so magical. There was water running through this. I stayed here for so long. I also followed a Yellow Wattlebird to another tree and found her yellow wattles on her ears. I melted.Just look at those halations <3I spent so long trying to figure this tree out. How did it grow like this? Why can't I stop looking at its branches? It also felt so difficult to capture in all its strangeness.Such a nostalgic moment.Tasmanian Nativehen, or more affectionately - the turbochook. They were indeed very fast. I had to walk back to that famed tree by the way. I could not get enough...The branch in shadows feel like they are reaching for something desperately. Yet on the tree, it feels like she's merely proudly displaying her appendages.Look at these leaves just laying there being so full of beauty even as they die.Lovers in parks has to be the best sight in the entire world.This is my reddest photo. Strangely, the 2nd last frame on this roll of film. One could say it was indeed like physical redshift as it decreased in frequency but increased in wavelength.
I wanted to capture so many more photos. But I left grateful that I was given such a day in this place and the healing that this place offered.
