Finding Beauty in the Details: Huntington Gardens

A few weeks, I visited Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, CA with my mom and my partner. It was one of those rare, peaceful afternoons where time slows down. We wandered through blooming gardens, shady paths, and quiet corners, and at some point, they gave me a challenge: “Photograph only the details around you.”

As a Los Angeles concert photographer, I’m used to capturing energy—the rush of the crowd, the movement of a performer, the noise and pulse of live music. I focus on connection and intensity. But this challenge asked something different of me. It asked me to be still, to observe, to notice.

At first, I didn’t know where to begin. But as I started slowing down, I began to really see—curled leaves on a stone path, soft petals lit by afternoon sun, the way my mom’s hand brushed against a bench. These weren’t loud moments, but they were meaningful.

It reminded me that onstage, even the most electric performances are built on quiet rituals—personal details artists bring with them to feel grounded. A lucky charm tucked into a guitar case. A scribbled setlist taped to the floor. These pieces often go unnoticed, but they’re essential. Just like the small moments in our own lives.

As a photographer, I spend so much time helping others preserve their memories that I sometimes forget to document my own. That day at Huntington Gardens reminded me that it’s okay (and important) to turn the camera inward sometimes. To capture the everyday. To honor the details.