Cary photographer Raj Patel invites viewers to share the intimate beauty of nature that he finds in his ramblings around western Wake County.

The Umstead Hotel and Spa is featuring Patel’s photographs through February 2021. The exhibit, ‘Exploring Tranquility,’ is on display at the SAS Corporate Art Collection. The fitness center also showcases Patel’s art with a large mural.

“I get this calm and peaceful sense when I’m out in nature,” Patel said. “I’ve always noticed light and how light falls, and I think that’s what got me into photography.”

Patel, a recreational photographer, captures nature’s beauty outside of his work as a software test engineer at SAS. His lens focuses most often on the serene creeks and forests of William B. Umstead State Park, Bond Park and Apex Lake.

“We wish we could go to all these exotic places that you see on social media, but there’s a lot of beauty locally,” he said.

Leah Goodnight, director of marketing for The Umstead Hotel and Spa, believes Patel’s series contributes to the  hotel’s mission.

“Raj’s work perfectly reflects the hotel’s themes of art, nature, and wellness,” she said. “His artful shots of our namesake, neighboring Umstead State Park, capture the tranquility and beauty of nature, encouraging a visual ‘forest bathing’ experience for the viewer.”

Patel’s series of photographs for the gallery uncovers landscapes throughout the seasons revealing autumnal golden leaves and the lush greens of spring.

“We all have a choice in how we impact the world we live in,” he wrote in his introduction to the exhibit. “It is my hope that these photographs will inspire you to take better care of our natural resources and support environmental conservation efforts for the generations to come. I also hope they bring you moments of tranquility.”

Inspired by the green mindset he obtained while growing up in Ahmedabad, India, Patel makes conscious effects through his day to help the planet. He recalls the seasonal produce at grocery stores in India, which his family brought home in reusable bags made from old clothes.

“We are so disconnected from nature and the seasons,” Patel said. “Last week at a grocery store, I saw watermelons. Are they getting shipped from the southern hemisphere? Growing up in India, we enjoyed the various fruits and vegetables and only had them when in season and not all year round.”

Patel is never without his reusable water bottle and keeps a set of reusable utensils at his desk at work.

“I always try to not waste,” Patel said. “People buy plastic bottles and then just toss them. And straws, why can’t we just drink out of the cup?”

He also recognizes the financial barriers to certain environment-friendly habits that prevent individuals from adapting to eco-friendly lifestyles. A few years ago, his family inquired about solar panels for their home, but the expense was unaffordable.

“There was just no way to make the monthly payments,” Patel said. “Going green requires a lot of green — cash.”

In order to support local nature initiatives, 10 percent of the profits from the sale of his prints will be donated towards conservation groups including the Umstead Coalition.

Information about the exhibit is at theumstead.com/art. Patel’s photography can be seen on Instagram @rajpatelphotos, or on his website, rajpatel.myportfolio.com.