Nature Morte.

Most beautiful memorial photo. So beautiful that one forgets all about death and starts thinking about Life.

lovely.

This is a most interesting photograph. It in't often one encounters something so refreshingly different. But You have so many facets of photographic talent to choose from it doesn't surprise me! 

The colours and textures are exquisite and the position of the flower is fascinating. It is as if the flower is dominating the pomegranate even in death.  I wonder if there is any unconscious symbolism here, maybe someone that continues to have a great influence on your life even after they have passed.  In any case a most original concept! 

Sincere Compliments my friend! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

A photograph that could be a fine painting.  Superb work... Mike

excellent

Mihali, Tuhin, Alf, Mike and Mehmet, I am very obliged to you for your visit and comments. Thank you very much.

Alf your comment prompted me to write the back story to the picture, thank you my friend.

So here it is:

Having set up my new camera I wanted to take a few pictures. I looked around for some props and I ended up with a dry red rose a pomegranate and a sheet of sack cloth. I was in the conservatory where there is a lot of natural daylight. The piece of sack cloth was draped over a box and hey presto I had a makeshift studio. I took three photos with the camera and props on the table increasing the exposure gain until I was satisfied with the histogram. This was before lunch. I then got on with my chores. At about six in the evening I received a phone call from a childhood friend and I was a bit surprised as he never calls me in London. We first met at nursery; we went to primary school and then to high school together. He was one of my best friends. Every Saturday now a group of about a dozen friends that go back to our childhood days meet for lunch at the same restaurant and we have a great time, reminiscing and putting the ‘world to rights’. I join them when I am In Cyprus. My friend said that they were talking about me last Saturday and he asked when I was coming…soon I said and then I asked him how he was. His reply was a bit strange. He said that he was trying to get used to it. Get used to what? I asked. He then said that his wife had passed away four months ago. She died from cancer and nobody new about this except the close family…..Going back to the picture, in Greek mythology the pomegranate symbolizes death and the stooping dry rose to me symbolises mourning. Coincidence, or had I felt it intuitively, incredible as it may seem? Anyway this is the back-story of the picture.

I have read your dialogue about how and why you were working on this image (congrats on your new camera - I hope you find hours and hours of satisfaction from it's use).  But before I even read your story - The characteristics of the Dried Rose really hit home to me.  Having worked in a flower shop - I knew this rose had stopped 'drinking' before it was ever dried.  That is why it is bent over at the bud.  The only way to revive it is to give it a fresh cut and lay the rose in water, hoping it will begin to drink - as if SAVING IT'S LIFE.  I love drying roses.  Even the way the leaves bend and dry - here, the leaves have the posture of arms that seem to be reaching out to the pomegranate with the intention of 'comforting'. I do believe that we often intuitively feel another's pain even before we know about it.  Your friend called you - needing you - a voice or shoulder - someone he knew he could share his grief and pain with in a moment of 'emptiness'.  Here I see you, the ROSE comforting your FRIEND in his despair.  I love the depth of colour, the textures in the Pomegranate and the Burlap.  The Quality of Light is so lovely. I offer my Sympathies to you as you process this news and contemplate your friend's Loss.  You have a warm and loving spirit Dimitris - I know that when you go back to Cyprus your embrace will truly be welcomed by this very dear friend. I hope he draws much comfort just knowing you are there - we reach out to certain people at times like this - he  knew you would be there for him - an embrace across the miles.

Cheers

PDE