Sometimes simply being alone, away from the noise and demands of the human world and among the vast, but quiet grandeur of nature is a transformative experience.
You can finally hear yourself think, and the openness of the wilderness seems like a presence itself, with you while you re-center.
And that's the feeling you get, too, from looking at the photography of Aida Pascual Benito, who capture solitary, mysterious figures amid natural beauty.
Being alone is an ambiguous concept. On the one hand, it can be sad or even frightening to be on one's own.
But on the other, it's when we're alone that we're able to regroup and find balance again. Like another photographer who used striking combinations in his photos to explore solitude, Pascual Benito's work also explores this subject.
With some interesting, but subtle costumes for her models and a knack for capturing natural beauty. Pascual Benito creates photos that look simple at first — it's a person standing outside — but actually take on much more when you pause for a moment to examine them closer.
Take a look at some of her photos, and see how the quiet of nature can be deeply calming.
[H/T: My Modern Met]
Pascual Benito captures her models in areas of vast, untouched nature. Compared to the sweeping landscapes, tall trees, and far-off horizons, the figures look small and fragile.
They also seem completely alone, the only human being for miles.
And captured this way, the photos give us a sense of solitude and everything it comes with — the good and the bad.
The photos each have a wonderful ambiguity to them. On the one hand, they evoke serenity, peace, and exploration.
But on the other, they might suggest vulnerability, loss, and isolation. It all depends on how you look at it. Or maybe they evoke all of those things all at once.
And thanks to Pascual Benito's sharp eye for composition and her careful selection of costumes, it's also easy to come up with a singular mood or even a story for each photo.
They remind us of fairy tales, legends, dreams, and even our own memories. Looking at them, it's almost hard not to come up with a story for each one.
Pascual Benito also makes the most of all seasons and weather in her native Spain, and manages to create something evocative year-round. Her photos use mist, snow, water, and fog to create moody, contemplative environments.
And she doesn't shy away from more outrightly melancholy imagery, either. Instead, she shows that even in sadness, there's a sort of beauty.
If there's one thing all of her photos have, it's a sense of possibility.
And maybe that's really the feeling we have when we're alone. That all by ourselves, there's suddenly possibility everywhere.
Even if that possibility comes in the form of a challenge or something intimidating.
They also remind us of the beauty and power of nature, and how it can be, in its own way, a friend to us.
And they remind us just how important alone time is, and how it can help us make peace with the confusion of everyday life.
You can see more of Pascual Benito's work on her website, as well as on Facebook, Tumblr, and Instagram, where you can keep up with her latest projects and see how she uses the seasons to capture different, but all equally beautiful, scenes.
And be sure to SHARE her photos to spread the beauty and tranquility of nature to your friends!
