Finding Meaning In Simple Things
Finding meaning in simple things showcased in rain drops on red roses.
Finding meaning in simple things can reduce fear and uncertainty and help us find our way in a complicated world.
By keeping your photos simple folks can connect with them in a more personal and, often, profound way.
Once the initial visual connection is made the technical, aesthetic and spiritual aspects in our images will emerge.
I photographed this bunch of red roses, immediately after a rain shower, in the lovely Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg, Austria.
It’s a very simple photo that illustrates a range of quite different elements. Some of which are obvious, others less so.
The image was made with a full frame Canon 5D Mark II camera and Canon 24-105 mm f/4 IS lens at 105 mm.
With my camera set to ISO 400 I utilized a shutter speed of 1/20 second and an aperture of f/8 to achieve just the right mood and degree of sharpness in the most prominent roses.
How To Deconstruct A Photo
Let's look at the obvious elements of the image.
It’s a close-up photograph
It displays a shallow depth of field (DOF) which helps the subject stand out from an otherwise distracting background
It features water droplets which most folks find to be both visually and emotionally appealing
It features flowers, which happen to be roses
The roses display a red hue (i.e., color)
The hue of the roses is relatively high in saturation (i.e., purity of color)
Red Roses Meaning
Red is a highly evocative color that, most commonly, suggests feelings of passionate love or desire.
But meaning is a complex thing and the meaning we associated with red roses can convey a range of other feelings depending upon the context.
While red roses with higher levels of luminance (i.e., brightness) are often associated with romantic love, darker colored red roses are more appropriate to conveying wishes of heartfelt regret and sorrow.
It’s interesting that half the roses and surrounding leaves in my photo are quite brightly illuminated while the other half are shaded.
That effect serves to emphasize shape through the image, but I feel it also places the photo in an interesting place where it's able to, simultaneously, explore notions of romance and regret.
It might be this subtle complexity, as much as the beauty of the roses, that holds our attention that much longer.
A path to the fabulous Mirabell Gardens. Link to Travel Resources page.
Raindrops On Roses - Exploring Metaphors
What do the raindrops on these roses indicate to you?
That it’s raining
That the soil supporting the flower is receiving life-giving sustenance
That it’s a time of plenty
That beauty is transient
Such delicate beauty only lasts a few short moments. One moment the raindrop comes into contact with the flower, the next it's gone.
Might that suggest both the beauty and transient nature of our natural world and, by implication, our own existence in the greater scheme of things?
There is life within every flower and a world within every raindrop. It's during those fleeting moments that I'm reminded of the transitory nature of our existence.
Pink roses, photographed after a rain storm, in the Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg.
Simple Approach To Making Beautiful Photos
We are connected to each other and to the natural world.
By concentrating your attention on the more simple aspects of everyday life you'll be able to block out worldly distractions.
Such simple meditations will enhance your focus and may lead to insights as to the nature of reality and your true purpose in life.
To begin the search for such inner truths we would all do well to stop and, dare I say, smell the roses.
I believe that, if you're serious about the communicative aspects of your photography, it's important to be aware of the power of metaphor and symbolism in the photos you make.
Art can be based around abstraction, creative techniques and political or social issues.
But art can also be based around a simple exploration of color, form and luminosity.
The object photographed is not what’s important. Why you make your photos, what they’re about and what you discover about yourself and the world around you in the process is what matters most.
Art isn’t about the adoption of a particular look, style or process, nor is it about the way we display our photos.
Art is about meaning and exploration and that’s a journey that can be undertaken just as well at home as abroad.
There’s no reason why you can’t explore the most important and complex issues associated with the Human Condition. And you don’t have to dress in black and live in a garret to do so.
All that’s needed is the desire to create beautiful photos of simple things which, by the way, you can do in your own garden.
The importance of simplicity within our increasingly complicated world should not be understated. By keeping your photos simple it's easier for the viewer to connect with them in a meaningful way.
What a perfect way to help heal the world, one photo at a time.
