Face to face with the red-tailed hawk in the morning light by Arjan Warmerdam

During a warm walk through the woods, I spotted this red admiral sitting quietly on the forest floor. Most people recognise this butterfly by its striking red band and white wing spots, but up close it is the many details that normally remain hidden that really catch the eye. To take this photo, I lay down at the butterfly’s eye level. From that low vantage point, you get a completely different perspective on nature. The green blades of grass and the small twig surrounding the butterfly are part of its natural habitat and provide a natural frame for the image. It is precisely these small elements that ensure the photograph is not just about a butterfly, but about a moment in nature.

What appealed to me was the colour contrast. The warm reddish-brown and black hues of the red admiral stand out beautifully against the soft green of the background. At the same time, the image exudes a sense of tranquillity because the surroundings fade into a gentle blur. The butterfly seems to stand still for a moment in a world that is normally in constant motion.

Whilst taking the photograph, I noticed how perfectly the red admiral blends into its surroundings. Despite its striking colours, it sat virtually unnoticed amongst the grass, twigs and leaves. It is only when you take the time to look closely that you realise just how special an encounter like'actually is.

With this photograph, I want to show that beauty is often closer than we think. A walk through the woods doesn’t have to be spectacular to yield special moments. Sometimes a single butterfly, captured in the right light and from the right perspective, is enough to make us pause for a moment and reflect on the richness of nature.

Thanks to the combination of natural colours, a soft background and striking details, this piece fits well into an interior where tranquillity, nature and warmth take centre stage.