Black-and-white photograph of an open water lily rising above reflective pond water, with a broad lily pad on the left and cropped pads on the right.

Above the Dark Water

MG-0127

July 2020

About this piece

A pale water lily stands just right of center, its layered petals and upright stamens sharply defined against softly shifting reflections. Rendered in black and white, the pond becomes a study of luminous surfaces, dark water, and the patterned edges of floating leaves.

The story

I framed the flower with enough water around it to let the reflections remain part of the picture. The broad leaf on the left offered a rough, patterned edge; beside it, the petals seemed almost translucent. Looking through the camera, I was drawn to the small distance between the bloom and the surface. That slender lift of stem gave the flower its quiet separation from everything gathered in the water.

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