I had only lived in Raleigh for a couple of months and was restless from the snowy first month and cold second month, so I was looking for reasons to get outside. I had been planning to explore William B. Umstead State Park and decided on one fine March day to make the trip.
You may have guessed by now that I don’t just simply head out for a walk/hike in a park. Oh, no. Like any exploration of a new place, this involved getting out my camera backpack and figuring out how much gear I could fit inside. Clearly, the Canon came along, but I’d have to go back and look through my film archives to figure out which of my 35mm or medium format arsenal tagged along.
So, I was walking through Umstead Park, cautiously exploring as one does when it’s the first visit, when I came upon this lovely little fairy in a clearing. She was perched on a tree stump surrounded by her favorite crystals. In her left hand was a tiny crystal ball. I chatted with her briefly. Told her I was new to North Carolina (and the east coast!) and had just made a Big Life Change and was still feeling my way through all of it. She smiled sweetly but remained silent. I continued along the trail.
I stopped again on my way back. She was just so lovely, I couldn’t resist making a portrait of her. Of course, I asked if I could take her picture. It’s the polite thing to do.
“That’s what you’re here for,” I heard a voice say. There was no other human around me. I took a few photos, thanked her for being such a lovely model, and headed home.
Eight years on, as I am feeling myself at another major life crossroads, I think I finally understand what she meant.
The Wee Fae of Umstead is the first offering in my Tiny Treasures series. These fine art photographic prints will be available in square and rectangular formats in these sizes:
- 5×5
- 8×8
- 10×10
- 5×7
- 11×14
She makes the perfect addition to your gallery wall or any space that could use a spot of whimsy and fun. And who knows? Maybe if you ask really nice, she’ll read your fortune in her tiny crystal ball!
