When given the topic of serenity, my mind immediately thinks of nature, an environment almost completely void of modern technology and its somewhat hazardous consequences. I chose to capture the beauty and calmness of Hakone Gardens, a place filled with koi ponds, blooming flowers, and Asian architecture. In my opinion, this garden symbolizes serenity to me, as whenever I’m here, I forget about all my worries and stresses of life outside of the garden. There is little to remind me of my problems, and the small, illuminated garden feels like a safe bubble. In order to truly capture the tranquil vibe of this garden, I used the “Daylight” White Balance setting and used Adobe Photoshop to bring out its golden hues.