Text and photos by Richard Dvořák
Richard, author and photographer
Experimenting with a macro lens (Canon RF 100mm f2.8 L Macro IS USM) and wide-screen formats, specifically 2.35:1 (21:9), has been a delightful exploration. In my professional work as a photographer, I rarely get the chance to use macro lenses, making each opportunity especially meaningful. The macro lens unveils intricate details and hidden worlds that captivate my imagination, offering viewers an intimate glimpse into often overlooked and fascinating microcosms. It also helps me feel connected to, or at least a part of, nature.
These photos were taken on a sun-filled summer morning in Bad Wörishofen, a spa town in Bavaria, Germany. Known for its hydrotherapy methods developed by Sebastian Kneipp (1821–1897), Bad Wörishofen, and especially its Kurpark, provide a serene backdrop for capturing the beauty of nature.
The Kurpark, designed in the English style, is divided into various sections. There is a scent and aroma garden with over 250 species of fragrant plants, spanning an area of approximately 3,500 m². Additionally, there are three medicinal herb gardens named after historical figures:
- Walahfrid-Strabo-Garten: Named after Walahfrid Strabo (808/809 – 849), the abbot of Reichenau Monastery. The garden is designed as a medieval monastic garden.
- Leonhart-Fuchs-Garten: Designed in the strict geometric forms of the Renaissance, this garden is named after Leonhart Fuchs (1501 – 1566), a physician from the University of Tübingen.
- Sebastian-Kneipp-Garten: A rural, farmer-style garden named after Sebastian Kneipp (1821 – 1897).
In 1972, a rosarium with over 550 varieties of roses was established, covering an area of about 10,000 m².
To enlarge the Richard’s photos click on the small icon (magnifier) at the bottom of the right corner.
1. Actaea racemosa, the black cohosh, black bugbane, black snakeroot, rattle-top, or fairy candle (syn. Cimicifuga racemosa).
2. Actaea racemosa with European honey bee (Apis mellifera)
3. Aruncus dioicus, known as goat's beard, buck's-beard[1] or bride's feathers
4. Poaceae also called Gramineae is commonly referred to as grass
5. Echinops sphaerocephalus, known by the common names glandular globe-thistle, great globe-thistle or pale globe-thistle