magnolias - Planting Fields Arboretum

click here for HOME

White magnolia flowers with dark black branches form a monochromatic patchwork waterfall against a deep blue sky which refuses to be totally obscured.  As the sun is slightly behind the tree, the flowers have a florescent quality as the light passes through them.  This makes them stand out in arrogant contrast to the branches which are not able to pass the light and hence become pitch black scraggy arms which are obliged to support the more beautiful flowers.  I feel that the image is floral metaphor of "Beauty and the Beast", beautiful flowers romantically entwined with beastly contorted black branches.  Yet, it is clear that one could not live without the other.

As all things in nature, the scene is still ephemeral in spite of its beauty.  The flowers will only be present for only a few days, and the graphically contrasting blue sky can change in mere moments.  The image is frozen through the camera lens, and then interpreted in the darkroom, to bring about a scene which is timeless.

This image was taken at Dawes Arboretum in central Ohio.

This picture is approximately 15 inches by 19 inches, printed by hand by myself on Kodak Ektacolor professional paper.  The print is available in a matted format of 20 by 24 inches and is signed on the back.

The price is $ 275.00 plus shipping and handling. Email me at robert@mazurek.net if you are interested in the print.

 The reference number for this image is 8640