Courtesy Hawkins Biggins White anthurium at Lyon Arboretum, Manoa.

Botanical beauties

Photographer Hawkins Biggins has a deep passion for photographing botanicals, and this new series is a look at some of her work in the plant world.

Her collection of flowers, leaves and plant details were all photographed at botanical gardens around Oahu.

"I just go in with a macro lens," Biggins says. "I like to frame them up close and abstract. I'm mainly looking at the shapes and textures of the plants."

Biggins also sees this as an opportunity to blend her love of photography with being able to show her work in commercial spaces. More of her botanicals are displayed at SoHa Living at Ward Centre.

"I'm thinking about what people would want to hang on their wall," she says. "This is kind of combining my passion for up-close abstracts with 'how do I earn a living?' "

But perhaps more important is the satisfaction she gets when shooting her photographs. "I love shooting botanicals. I get lost in these little worlds," she says. "All my problems go away, and I'm focused on what's happening in front of me. It's a wonderful feeling."

More of Biggins' work can be seen at her Web site, hawkinsbiggins.com.

Courtesy Hawkins Biggins Flowers of the heliconia family at Lyon Arboretum, Manoa.

Courtesy Hawkins Biggins Lipstick palm at Lyon Arboretum, Manoa.

Courtesy Hawkins Biggins Coconut palm leaf at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden.