Upon seeing today’s Daily Prompt – Frail, the first thought that came to mind was the frailty of delicate flowers, as they show their beauty to us for an all-too-short amount of time during the year.
Then I came across an image that I captured about a year ago at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, Massachusetts. Even though the construction of the flower is definitely frail, there is something else at work here: for our amusement, these beautiful, but rather plain flora had been spray-painted in a variety of colors. Yes, the color is much more interesting than the light tan look, but does this something about our human frailty that we have to modify Nature to suit it to our standards and preferences?
Human Frailty?
Among all the beauty of this botanic garden, this stood out to me as an example of too much intervention.
What do you think?
Technical Details
This image was captured with a Canon EOS 5D Mk III using an EF 24-105mm f/4L lens. Exposure settings were at f/10 using a shutter speed of 1/160 second and 320 ISO.
A Fresh Perspective
Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment.
Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael.
My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals.
Universal Connections
My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation.
This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections.
Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client.
And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography!
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7 thoughts on “Daily Prompt – Frail”
What a beautiful image! It is frail – both the flower and it’s time in season 😉 Thank you so much for sharing more of your gorgeous photography!
What a beautiful image! It is frail – both the flower and it’s time in season 😉 Thank you so much for sharing more of your gorgeous photography!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your feedback!!
You are so talented ❤
You’re too kind! 🙂
😉
An absolute stunner!
Thank you very kindly!