It’s nearly a universal human truth that nature, in its purest form, can recharge your soul. Exploring our world, away from the influence of society, reconnects us with something deeper, a clearing of the mind and a respite from everyday stress.
There are no butterflies in your apartment. No birds flying about in your family room. And unless you have an insane pool, no waterfall in your back yard.
So grab your phone - or even a real-life camera if you happen to have one - and go find some nature. Everyone needs to clear out their mind every once in a while.
That’s how it was for Polly Powasnik. She rediscovered the peace that comes from nature after the loss of her fiancé. She started hiking again, “detaching from like day-to-day society, getting that ping-pong mind cleared away,” she says. And it’s also when she broke out her phone to capture what she saw - finding her old interest in photography returning.
For Polly, it’s a perfect way to bring that inner peace that nature provides back with her.
She’s drawn to waterfalls, streams, reflecting pools - the cleansing medium of nature’s most effective solvent. And she’s found beauty in changing perspectives, from the underside of evergreens to flowers. Taking in nature after a rainstorm. Seeing how things look in different seasons. Simple joys.
She’s even explored historical sites, like an area in Chester where President Roosevelt restored with a reforestation project. The cross between history and nature brings special excitement.
The important thing to her is appreciating what’s out there, just unplugging from normal life and detaching from everyday society for a while.
These are all pictures Polly has taken on her journeys around the state, documenting the interesting sights she’s taken in. And yes, she’s posted on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. You can find her everywhere at hiker_girl90 to see where she’s been and maybe even give her some ideas for some new places to discover.
If you like what you see, she’s even begun to sell some of her pictorial artwork on fineartamerica.com.