In her first solo show, Kelly Hunt has taken the time to literally smell the roses.

She spoke to The Royal Gazette about her exhibition "Alive", which opens tomorrow at the Bermuda Society of Arts.

The show consists of a collection of plant and flower photographs on canvas.

Speaking about her inspiration for the show, she said: "I have always found the beauty of nature both inspirational and soothing.

"For me, nature is a spiritual pathway. The idea for this collection was to try and capture the essence of a flower or plant.

"These are close up/macro images that hopefully serve to deliver a new take on some of the naturally brilliant colours and awe inspiring patterns that are found in our environment."

Asked why she chose vegetation as her subject matter, Mrs. Hunt said: "I know the idea of 'stop and smell the roses' is a bit cliché, but I do think there's validity in it.

"Often times we get so caught up in our daily lives, that we forget to take in all of the beauty that surrounds us. If I have revealed a small slice of nature's wonder through these shots, then I have done what I intended."

The mother-of-two said that some of the challenges involved the essence of correct lighting.

"While natural light is quite possibly the best there is, shooting outdoors has its problems," said the photographer.

"Elements such as wind and proper lighting are issues beyond your control so a shoot can easily turn into a waiting game or be cancelled altogether.

"Because plants and flowers are such popular subjects for photographers, another challenge was to produce a different spin on the everyday image."

Carrying her camera was a part of her day, she said: "More often than not, my camera is with me.

"Since I have two young children, who are also often with me, I am usually shooting them and if something else catches my eye, I'll try to get it.

"Close up photography generally requires the use of a tripod, so I typically have to schedule time to properly set up for an outdoor shoot."

Photography has always been a love of hers, but she explained that it took on a new role in her teens when she first stepped into a dark room.

"Without my own darkroom to work in, I reluctantly traded in film for digital," she said.

"Initially I thought that a digital camera would dampen my spirit for the hobby, but ultimately it has only fuelled it. Of course, there's nothing like the birth of a child to reignite a passion for photography either."

In the past Mrs. Hunt, who is the wife of opposition MP Donte Hunt, has taken part in group shows, exhibiting handmade jewellery and photos, but this is her first solo exhibition.

With the belief that art is at the core of every society, she stated: "Outside of myself, I think it is really important that we support our local artists.

"When I heard the news that the historical venue of City Hall might be taken from the artists of Bermuda to make room for commercial space, I was appalled.

"I am a firm believer that art is at the very core of every successful society. The loss of artistic expression from within a community is the first sign of real trouble."

The show and the Prison Art Show, open at 5.30 p.m. on Friday night and run until July 16.