C&T Publications 50 States of Art - 2015 | Page 100

Shanna Hyatt - Idaho

Shanna Hyatt is a self-taught fine art photographer from Boise, Idaho.

There is something magical about capturing a moment in time with a photograph. Having lived in several parts of the United States
I am continuously awed by the stunning diversity found in nature, and the majesty of unique architecture. It wasn’t until I began to
travel that I realized how much I love the ability photography gives me to capture moments and places; the special beauty that sets
each new location apart from every other. My photographs offer a tiny glimpse into my soul…these are the sights that in the moment struck a chord with me in a personal way.
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/shanna-hyatt.html

Here is my piece. It is called Summer Garden.
Choosing only one photograph is like choosing a favorite child, but Summer Garden holds a special place in my heart. There is
something about the symmetry and color found in nature that really appeals to my OCD brain. During a summer trip to the
Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC, Canada, I discovered an overwhelming abundance of nature waiting to be noticed and photographed. In particular, these vibrant, colorful flowers seemed to be the epitome of summer with their warm, sunny shades of
deep orange, golden yellow, and brown. Perhaps not the most flashy flowers in the garden, but the detail and color caught my attention. Taking a close-up shot of this flower allowed me to focus on the symmetrical detail and the perfectly formed petals. Nothing beats nature when it comes to creating art!
Quick Facts:
The Butchart Gardens, which receive about 1 million visitors a year, is now listed designated as National Historic Site of Canada.
The gardens had a very simple beginning back in 1907 when Jennie Butchart commissioned garden designer Isaburo Kishida of
Yokohama, Japan to create a Japanese Tea Garden for her. Over the years it expanded to become the world famous gardens we see
today.
The Sunflower, known by its scientific name of Helianthus, after the sun-god Helios, is a native plant of North America, except for
three species which are native to South America.
If you look closely at a Sunflower you will see that it actually consists of anywhere from 1000 to 2000 individual flowers!
Sunflowers can grow in height up to 1 foot a day, making them one of the fastest growing plants in the world.
For about 20 years after the University of Texas was established in 1883 law school students, for their graduation ceremony, wore a
white suit with a Sunflower pinned to their lapels. This was meant to symbolize that just as the Sunflower keeps its face turned to
the sun, the new lawyers would keeps theirs turned to the light of justice. The Sunflower Ceremony continues to endure at the
University. https://www.utexas.edu/law/sao/graduation/history.html
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