by Carla Caruso

Loretta Smyth is well-known locally on social media for capturing our state’s people and places.

While the hobbyist photographer prefers to stay behind the camera, she’s not shy about sharing her love of South Australia online, including images of her cherished Adelaide Park Lands.

We recently chatted to Loretta about her passion for photography and your Park Lands.

Hi, Loretta. Why do you enjoy taking images of our parks? 

I love capturing the Adelaide Park Lands as there is such a variety of things to see. After 35 years in this lovely city, I still am pleasantly surprised by unseen-by-me finds. 

How often do you visit the Park Lands, and why?

I frequent the Park Lands at least two to three times a week on my way to work.

I love that they brighten my morning, even when it is overcast – love them when they’re foggy too. I go at least a couple of times a month to other areas of the Park Lands also.

What’s your favourite park in the CITY, and why?

Hard question; I love a number of them for different reasons. I love the Botanic Garden [Park 11] for its beauty and variety.

I love the zoo [also in Park 11], not only for its amazing animals but for its different trees and plants, and I love the plane trees in between. And I adore that we have horses in our city Park Lands – where else has that in two places [Park 6 and Park 27]?

What keeps you busy when you’re not meandering the greenery?

I love the history of our beautiful city and that is also very evident in a number of our parks. I always love adventuring with my camera and friends.  

a top memory from time spent in the Park Lands? 

My most unforgettable memory would be the Illuminate [festival] in the Botanic Garden [Park 11] last year.

It was such a magical walk that brought out my inner child at every turn [including] seeing the happy faces on so many, from little to giant kids!   

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If you’d like to share your Park Lands love with others, just use the tag, #adelaideparklands, on social media.