The Nature of Kensington
Reported by Erik Smith

"The Nature of Kensington" book.

Three million of us were at Kensington Park last year, but few of us probably saw it in quite the same way Ted Nelson sees it.

"I like to wander around and I like to just take my time and really spend a lot of time in the environment," he says. "And find the things that work on that particular day."

For almost 20 years, Ted has had Kensington in the lens of his camera. Ninety-four silent photographs that may contain the entire English language are in his book, "The Nature of Kensington."

It's a book from the heart, Ted's heart, and the heart of Kensington Park.

"You have the opportunity to go from one kind of environment to another," Ted says. "You know, from an open field maybe into a marsh and explore all kinds of different zones and let your mind wander and let yourself think about what you're seeing."

Perhaps it was his 30 years as a biology teacher or the time of youth that taught his eye to see the unrivaled beauty in the common things of nature -- an oak leaf suspended in ice, the little things we think we see but rarely pause to ponder.

"I think the common places are as important as Yosemite and Glacier Park," Ted says. "Not that those places aren't wonderful and beautiful but I think that, you know, I think the old forest in Kensington is beautiful and wonderful, too. There's a lot of appreciation we can get from that."

Ted's book is finding its way onto coffee tables, there to rest until some inquiring eyes wander their way among the pages to stop for a while, to ponder the true wonders, the true nature of Kensington, to visit this sanctuary of the spirit from the comfort of an easy chair.

For some, no doubt it will just be a quick read. But for others, there are enough words unspoken in every page to last another millennium.

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