Photographed in late 2022 during Dad’s remission from cancer, using one of his favourite Leica lenses, adapted onto my Canon… He was a photographer by profession. For me, it was more a hobby that became more serious when I grew up. A few days before he passed, he told me he was happy with these portraits and that I might even be doing them better than he would have. It meant more than I knew how to say…
I photographed this chrysanthemum at home yesterday. It was originally a bright yellow, but the colour felt a little too intense. Converting it to monochrome helped shift the focus to the textures and layers. Without the distraction of colour, the soft folds of the petals and their natural rhythm became more noticeable. The image took on a quieter, more contemplative feel, just what I was hoping for.
Photographed this morning at home, in natural light.
Using a wide aperture and close focus, I aimed to reduce the flower to texture, tone, and suggestion—less a botanical subject, more an impression. The shallow depth of field allowed the background petals to melt into abstraction, drawing the eye to the quiet details up front. It’s a familiar subject, seen differently through light and distance.
Sometimes, simplicity invites deeper looking.