of light and shadows. Stepping Razor #2.

My first day at the Colonial Chapel mortuary, as I was bent over the

flowers, not altogether totally unaware that people never come here

unless some sad or tragic business brings them, the proprietor of the

enterprise came bounding out of the solid oak front door, thrusting a

healthy meaty paw in my direction, a proud smile festooning his

otherwise unremarkable face. He was dressed in a simply sleeved t-

shirt, the type we called "jerseys" in the old country before team

uniforms simply commandeered that term and hung a connotation on it

stronger than the grip of a Republican on a dollar bill. "You like

flowers,eh?", he said in the tone of a parent in a crowd as his child

receives an award to the cascade of resounding applause, "well, come to

the back. We have all kinds of flowers there, more callas, more cacti,

Birds of Paradise, everything." I took a closer look at the man, taking in

his horn rimmed glasses, his easy manner, his enthusiasm. I liked him

on sight. Besides, he did not consider my camera a blight on humanity,

which is always a plus. I thanked him with the same warmth and gusto

he showed him, and out of politeness more than desire, promised to

explore his backyard at a later time. I made the usual excuses about the

position of the sun and its effects on lighting, and let him waft back into

the shadows from whence he had emanated. Of COURSE I had no

interest in walking with him to the nether regions of a mortuary and

crematorium, not out of superstition or fear of the dead, but because

neither the smell of formaldehyde nor the realization that in the bowels of

that place lay human bodies bereft of essence, mere meat to the

processed by a grim reaper, inspires any sort of creative juices to go

coursing through my veins. So, I stayed in the front of the mortuary,

where the grass emptied out to High Street, bent over the cascading

garden of calls and roses, and miscellaneous flora, while the real world

hurtled about within mere feet of me.

I was immediately taken in by this image.  The predominance of darker tones gives it an air of mystery.  Yet, there is enough highlights not only to provide a greater tonal range but to add contrast and to direct a viewer's eye.

Quite honestly, I like all 3 b&w's posted at the bottom of your workspace, but this one the best.  And I thoroughly enjoyed reading your narrative; you are a gifted writer.

The image got my attention, the story kept me there, something we don't often see on a posted image, well written.

The low lighting of the flower is well done, only giving us enough detail to keep it interesting. The high lights on the leaves ends are well done along with the illuminated center as the shadows cascade out, pristine fine art and great story telling of how the shot was had 

Such a beautiful composition Emmanuel.  I was enthralled by your story - life surprises us at every turn at times.  This is magnificent, I just love it!