The sun begins to rise over the Sargent Mountain summit, as Dr. Brittany Slabach's Small Mammal Research Team begins to check their traps.

“Kæreste,” Birgitte says to Martin. A few quiet glances pass between them, and a deep, familiar silence fall. It’s a small ritual. Ordinary, yet comforting. “These small moments are actually quite nice. My wife and our relationship is really important and every day we agree on the fact that we have a nice life,” said Martin. Where he once resisted every change, Martin now moves forward with quiet resilience. Simply beside Birgitte in their shared routines, or in the stillness of nature, Martin as found a deeper peace than he knew before his Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

At 64, Andrea, originally from Argentina, has overcome numerous health challenges, including breast cancer, osteopenia, and sleep apnea. Since her diagnoses, she has embraced a completely natural lifestyle. Recycling, reusing, and minimizing waste are central to her philosophy. Always moving, always working, Andrea has found that her new way of living helps her stay strong and resilient, both physically and mentally. Her body, though tested by the hardships of life, has now adapted to her natural life.

Laura Bratcher, a 45-year-old single mother from Bowling Green, Kentucky, engages in playtime with her daughter Piper Leonard in their backyard on a Sunday evening. Piper, diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, finds joy in constant movement, particularly enjoying outdoor play and swinging on her swing set with her mother. Bratcher, a Longhorn Steakhouse server in Bowling Green for 21 years, typically works morning shifts, allowing her afternoons to be dedicated to her daughter.

Renae and Kellie embrace after hearing the heartbeat and knowing everything is going to be ok. Since finding out her daughter was pregnant and knowing that the father chose not to be in Kellie’s life, Renae temporarily moved into Kellie’s house to help support her in any ways necessary. “There was one night I was craving Waffle House at 2:00am and I asked mom if she could drive me there and she said yes,” Kellie said.

Dorte Tilma, a weaver from Denmark, has been collecting natural materials since she was around nine or ten years old. Her art is deeply rooted in her connection to nature, using elements like seaweed, wood, bones, and fibers found in forests and on beaches.

He misses the joy of fishing—casting a line along the riverbed rocks with his friends’ laughter in the background. Though he can no longer fish like he used to, he has tried to adapt by creating a wheelchair-accessible kayak. Yet, he’s also found peace and joy in simpler things, like being by the water, simply observing. “Nowadays, when I go out in nature, there’ll be a hill or a tree trunk blocking the way, and I can’t go any further,” Martin explains. “I’ll just stop, and it might seem like I’m doing nothing, but honestly, I get into this meditative state, like I’m coming down—just being still. It’s very much like how I felt when I was fishing.” “I recognize this feeling when I’m just sitting there, looking at the horizon, in a forest, or anywhere really. It’s like clearing my head,” Martin says. “It’s something I think is truly healthy.”

Victoria Hill of Old Dominion University collects bio-optics data on the Susquehanna Flats in the Chesapeake Bay near Havre de Grace, Md.

Creste Jean, the Equine Manager, attempts to unfreeze the drinking water on the fields of the WKU Farm fields Sunday night.

An angler fishes on the Susquehanna Flats near Havre de Grace, Md., with Cecil County in the background, on Aug. 6, 2024. The flats are a large bed of bay grasses below the mouth of the Susquehanna River.

Queen Rita Room, a drag queen from Bowling Green, prepares for her role in the comfort of her dressing room. Each Wednesday night, Rita Room takes on the role of host of Drag Bingo at Landon’s Sugar Shack Bar and Restaurant. Her transformation begins at approximately 5 p.m. as she meticulously applies concealer before progressing to using masking tape to precisely apply eyeliner. After completing her makeup routine, Rita Room rounds off her look with a distinctive outfit and wig.

Harbor Splash 2024 participants jump into the Baltimore Harbor at Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point in Baltimore on Sunday, June 23, 2024. The city has drastically reduced sewage reaching the Inner Harbor, enabling its first major swimming event in roughly four decades.

Saul Villavicencio-Sanchez, 23, participates in a kickboxing session with coach Josh Biggs at Fuel Fortress Fitness Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Originally from Mexico, Villavicencio-Sanchez now resides in Bowling Green and has been practicing kickboxing for 1.5 years.

Around 11 pm, Meredith Moser (middle) and Reagan Sosnowski (right) help Morgan Montgomery (left) add the finishing touches to her Saturday night makeup look before heading off-campus to a fraternity event. Running back and forth between different friends’ Minton Hall dorm rooms, the girls enjoy getting ready as a group helping each other by holding up lights and doing each other’s makeup.