It’s never about “looking” for the moment — it’s about being receptive to it.

My yoga teacher Amy Eyrie has walked past this iron gate hundreds of times. She passes it every time she teaches a class at our gym. On this day, she noticed something different, and decided to grab her iPhone. She stopped to take the obligatory wide shot to document the occasion, and then realized there was something else going on: Art in the making.

Closing in, Amy saw the two planes of color xanax (left: violet, and right: dusty rose) showcasing the delicate beauty of this insect’s willowy limbs. She zoomed in, and captured this “painting” with perfect composition and line. The color was not altered here. And it may not be coincidence that the mantis’s underbelly matched the deep purple of the gate. It’s the perfect alignment of timing, light, and photographer’s instinct.

I sort of think nature wants us to discover her creative moments. It’s how she can connect with us and earn our respect. We just have to be kind enough to notice.