Nectar Lover by Laria Saunders

In the quiet corners of West Hollywood, Laria Saunders captured a fleeting moment of nature in motion. The photograph features a bee suspended in flight as it navigates a bush of delicate, tiny flowers, showcasing the intricate relationship between pollinator and bloom. By utilizing a precise shutter speed and a macro-oriented perspective, the photographer successfully froze the bee’s rapid movement against the soft, textured backdrop of the foliage. This image is award-worthy for its technical clarity and the patience required to document such a transient, intimate encounter within an urban environment, turning a simple neighborhood scene into a compelling study of wildlife.

Nectar Lover by Laria Saunders
Nikon D90 with Nikor 24-70mm
Exposure 1/200sec @ f/6.3 | ISO 200
Copyright Β© Laria Saunders
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Laria Saunders

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Hailing from a multi-generational family of artists, Laria Saunders is an accomplished photographer based in the arts district of downtown Los Angeles. With a career spanning 25 years, she has garnered international recognition for her diverse portfolio, which encompasses abstract, wildlife, dance, and travel photography. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions across the United States, including shows at the PhotoPlace Gallery and the Peace Project. Beyond her artistic pursuits, she serves as the co-owner of a portrait studio, continuing to influence the creative landscape through her technical expertise and long-standing passion for the medium.

Profile View Full Profile
13.1/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
279/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
10,491 views | 6 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date December 25, 2017
63.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 15.0
Style 12.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
West Hollywood, California, The United States

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Close-Up Photography
Laria Saunders Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.8/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,242/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
10,491/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
2.8/5 points
279/500 Submission
Jury Score: 63.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.8/20
Total Award Score: 75.8/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 6

Nadia Osei Cultural Representation, Authenticity & the Ethics of the Gaze Expert Review
West Hollywood isn't just a backdrop; it’s a curated stage. Saunders freezes this bee, but why do we crave this sterile, isolated perfection? It’s technically sharp, yet it feels hollow. I’m tired of seeing nature framed as a decorative object for our consumption. Does this focus on the insect’s labor ignore the human displacement happening just outside the frame? It’s pretty, sure, but it doesn’t challenge me. Who are we really looking at here?
Amara Diallo Portrait, Human Story & Narrative Portraiture Expert Review
We often forget that even the smallest creatures have a story to tell. In this West Hollywood garden, Laria Saunders didn't just snap a shutter; she waited for a conversation. We look at this bee, suspended in its frantic, golden labor, and we feel the weight of its purpose. It’s a portrait of persistence. I’m genuinely moved by how she found such profound intimacy in a neighborhood bush. It’s a photograph that asks to be returned to.
Catherine Byrne Photographic History, Canon & the Long View Expert Review
Macro photography often traps us in the clinical precision of a botanical plate, yet Saunders avoids that trap. The D90’s sensor renders the bee’s wing blur with a kinetic energy that recalls Harold Edgerton’s stroboscopic studies, though softened by a West Hollywood light that feels distinctly Californian. It’s a quiet, fleeting intersection of biology and urban sprawl. I’ve spent decades cataloging these tiny dramas, but the way she’s balanced that frantic motion against the bokeh truly made me smile.
Victoria Ashby Wildlife, Nature & the Ethics of the Unseen Moment Expert Review
It’s easy to freeze a bee when you’re hovering inches from a bush, but I’m left wondering if this was earned or extracted. A 24-70mm lens at that proximity suggests a photographer who didn't wait, but rather crowded the subject. I’ve spent days in the field waiting for a bee to trust my presence; this feels rushed. It’s technically sharp, sure, but it lacks the quiet stillness that comes from being truly invited into the scene.
Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the bee, something in the chest tightens. It’s that suspended, held-breath moment where the urban noise of West Hollywood simply vanishes. I’ve returned to this frame three times today, and each time, the blur of the foliage triggers a strange, quiet vertigo. It doesn’t just document a pollinator; it forces my own pulse to sync with that frantic, golden vibration. It’s a small, stinging reminder of how much life we ignore.
Priya Sharma Negative Space, Minimalism & the Japanese Aesthetic Expert Review
The bee hangs in the air. It’s a suspension of time. I’ve spent minutes watching the blur of wings against the green. The foliage recedes. It doesn’t demand attention. It simply waits. There’s a stillness here that catches my breath. The space between the petals isn’t just air. It’s a pause. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner is not empty. It’s a quiet invitation to look closer at what we usually ignore.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Priya Kapoor

The Hum of Summer

The air in July always tasted like crushed clover and dry heat. I remember the way the sun felt against the back of my neck, a heavy, golden weight that made the skin prickle.

Read the reflection →
By Amelia Cross

The Weight of a Wingbeat

There is a specific silence that follows the departure of a hummingbird. It is not a true silence, but a sudden, hollowed-out space where the air was once frantic with purpose.

Read the reflection →

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