Embers in Bloom

About this piece

Pointed bracts rise through the frame in saturated pink, orange, and yellow, enclosing pockets of dry, fibrous plant matter. Selective focus draws attention to the central textures while surrounding foliage dissolves into green, bringing fresh color and visible decay into the same composition.

The story

I came close enough for the flower to become a series of narrow chambers. What first caught my eye was the pink, but I stayed with the brown fibers gathered inside each fold. Their roughness interrupted the luminous edges, giving the color something to lean against. I framed out most of the surrounding foliage, leaving only its green blur. In that small space, the plant held both its brilliance and the traces of what had already faded.