In the depths of the night, Physalis alkekengi, the lantern flower, comes to life. Against a deep black background, the orange envelope shines like a small, fiery lantern. It looks like a sparkling secret, a living beacon that carefully conceals its mystery.
The delicate veins of the paper shell pull together in jagged lines, like an abstract pattern that catches and reflects the light. This fragile structure forms a natural work of art, with the flower hiding itself from view, but leaving its beauty entirely to the shapes and colours. The orange hues seem even more intense because of the contrast with the dark space around them, giving the flower a dramatic, almost magical look.
The lantern flower is not just an autumn decoration-she is a symbol of transformation, of the transience of the seasons. Even without the fruit that once enveloped it, its charm remains unmistakable in this dried state. A snapshot of nature, captured in its most beautiful, fragile form.
My name is Gerry van Roosmalen, photographer and author with a passion for images and stories that touch. After years in the corporate world, I followed my heart and chose photography in 2002. I completed the Fotovakschool in Apeldoorn, specialising in portrait and reportage photography.
Documentary and landscape..
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