Girl Who Travels

Travel Date: October 2025

There is a strange, quiet weight to the first week of a furlough. When the routine of the 9-to-5 is abruptly replaced by a calendar full of empty squares, the silence can be deafening. To combat the uncertainty of the government shutdown, my best friend and I traded the stress of the news cycle for the steady, timeless rhythm of Maymont in the heart of beautiful Richmond, VA.

Walking through the Japanese Garden and past the stone cascades, the “real world” felt miles away. These photos are a reflection of that afternoon—a day spent finding color in the transition of the seasons and comfort in the company of a friend who knows that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to simply take a long, slow stroll through the trees.

This feels like the entrance to a secret world. The composition leads the eye perfectly down the stone path and through the wooden gate. The contrast between the cool green foliage in the foreground and the fiery, glowing orange leaves in the distance creates a beautiful narrative of transitioning seasons.

There is a striking moodiness to this shot. By pushing the background into deep shadows, the vibrant red of the petals feels almost tactile, like crushed velvet. It’s a reminder that even in a crowded garden, beauty often demands a singular, focused gaze.

This photo is all about the harmony of nature. The soft, pale petals of the flower create a perfect stage for the bumblebee, while the pops of magenta in the background add a wonderful energy. It captures a fleeting moment of industriousness in a very peaceful setting.

This image shifts the perspective toward architecture and the passage of time. The desaturated, moody tones emphasize the texture of the wet stone and the intricate “lion’s head” fountain at the top. The way the water clings to the steps creates a sense of constant, rhythmic movement within a static, heavy structure. The singular orange flower in the center of the stone structure gives a pop of color to an otherwise gray-stone image.