In Search of Beautiful Things (and Creative Inspiration): January 2025
31 moments of everyday beauty - photographed by 5AM StoryTalk's readers and curated by me - to help inspire you on your personal and creative journeys
“In Search of Beautiful Things (and Creative Inspiration)” is a monthly photograph series by the readers of 5AM StoryTalk and curated by me. It began as an essay here at Substack, in which I detailed a low point in my personal and creative life, post-international move to London and how a daily ritual to look for and photograph one beautiful thing helped me recover some stability and creative energy in my life. It’s since evolved into a communal exercise I share with all of you through weekly Notes and these monthly articles that collect the beauty we share together.
This brings me to January 2025’s edition of “In Search of Beautiful Things (and Creative Inspiration)”. The winter and summer solstices as experienced in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres brought with them wonderful contrasts, which showed up in most of the submissions I received. And so, the theme I’ve come up with is: “Seasonal Mood Disorientation”. Maybe that will make sense to you as you consider the sometimes obvious, sometimes oddball juxtapositions I’ve identified.
The band Song Preservation Society has been generous enough to provide their lovely song “Snow” as a soundtrack. Be sure to click on play.
Now, please, enjoy these 31 moments of everyday beauty — and thank you to those who shared them with us (I wish I could’ve included every contribution). These photographs come from four continents and eight countries.
DAY 1
New York City, New York - United States
It’s silly but I love it. Found this set up walking home in Astoria. Had to take a picture and I’m super pleased with my “found art”.
DAY 2
Lyttelton - New Zealand
Walking in Lyttelton, a small port village.
DAY 3
Healdsburg, California - United States
Grapes that didn’t make the cut.
DAY 4
Perth, Western Australia - Australia
Here’s a photo of a resting dragonfly in my garden. I was watering my veggie patch before work when I saw this garden fairy.
DAY 5
Richmond, Virginia - United States
Autumnal beauty.
DAY 6
Bridgewater, South Australia - Australia
Shriveled and fading, these previously brilliant red flowers have their own delicate beauty.
DAY 7
Gleneden Beach, Oregon - United States
DAY 8
Outside Tulum - Mexico
The blue waters of a cenote.
DAY 9
Bergen - Norway
Beauty is love and humor.
DAY 10
Norfolk, Virginia - United States
DAY 11
Bucks County, Pennsylvania - United States
From my backyard. Mammatus clouds after a storm.
DAY 12
Melbourne, Victoria - Australia
Sunset. Taken over the Yarra, while walking the dog.
DAY 13
Shoren Heather (
)Los Padres National Forest, California - United States
These are caves carved by the wind. There’s a view through one of the “windows” to the mountains. Nature is extraordinary!
DAY 14
Over Mt. Taranaki - New Zealand
DAY 15
Southwest Colorado - United States
A frequent visitor to our property! We get lots of deer here. I spotted a red fox recently, and signs of a bear on the property, though I haven’t actually seen a bear here. Probably a good thing!
Hopefully, this series inspires you if you’re feeling creatively — or even personally — lost and maybe even encourages you to look for more beauty in your own life. If you’d like to join in yourself, be sure to submit your own photographs to be considered for next month’s edition, either via my weekly invitations on Notes or email them to me directly at 5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com.
DAY 16
Belas - Portugal
Roosters through the fence.
DAY 17
Sheffield, England - United Kingdom
This photo represents me in my happy place. This is Keith Murray from We Are Scientists performing at The Leadmill on 22nd November. I’m personally very proud of how this photo came out.
DAY 18
Hornsby, New South Wales - Australia
The Hornsby Water Clock, titled Man, Time and the Environment, is a piece of kinetic sculpture, a decorative fountain and a functional clock.
DAY 19
Yardley, Pennsylvania - United States
Shady Brook Farm.
DAY 20
Sydney, New South Wales - Australia
Children dancing in fake snow at the Jolly Market. I wasn't sure what to expect from this Christmas night market, given how warm summer has so far been in Australia this year, but it was delightful because of moments like this.
DAY 21
Easton, Pennsylvania - United States
My wee living tree.
DAY 22
Kathy Harms (
)Porto - Portugal
“Table for one.” This handsome guy was calmly waiting for his human to order dinner on Rua de Cedofeita the other evening. I couldn’t walk by without photographing this good boy!
DAY 23
Ang (
)Summit County, Ohio - United States
View of fresh snow through a wreath.
DAY 24
Polk County, Oregon - United States
Student turning the coat rack into a Festivus Pole days before Christmas Break in a classroom.
DAY 25
Saratoga County, New York - United States
I woke up to snow this morning, and it’s just as exciting as when I was a kid.
DAY 26
Los Angeles, California - United States
The 4 legged tree. This is across the street from my house in L.A., in Elysian Park.
DAY 27
Lucy S. John (
)Flixton, England - United Kingdom
The carved fire place in this abandoned Suffolk farm house has made my year.
DAY 28
Fair Oaks, California - United States
Fungus, doing its thing.
DAY 29
Galle - Sri Lanka
Dutch Reformed Church Graveyard, Galle Fort. The DRC is the oldest church in Galle, reaching back to the 1700s.
DAY 30
Superior, Wisconsin - United States
I like the looks of this cool old house.
DAY 31
Camanche, Iowa - United States
Every year I allow the wind to destroy the windsock...there is beauty in its destruction.
If you would like to submit a recent photograph of everyday beauty from your life, to be considered for next month’s edition of this series, look for an upcoming Notes call to action from me or email 5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com. Please include:
A hi-res photograph
Your first and last name
The location, even if it’s just a town or county or the name of a mountain range
Any note you would like to include to provide context (these are optional)
The rights to these photos will remain yours, of course, but submitting them should be understood as permission to publish them.
Oh, and spread the word if you can by sharing this article. I will never paywall this series, so helping to signal boost this just makes the experience richer for all of us who choose to become involved.
I look forward to continuing this exploration of moments of everyday beauty with you here at 5AM StoryTalk!
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If you enjoyed this particular article, these other three might also prove of interest to you:
Fabulous collection of photos, I think the best yet. And great soundtrack. That's a band to look into.
I think this might be my favourite selection yet. I feel very privileged to have my own contribution included with so many beautiful photos.