Graceful fragility – wispy trails of smoke rising from a red dahlia

by Marjolijn van den Berg

This atmospheric photograph: "Sierlijke kwetsbaarheid - vluchtige rook sliertjes vanaf een rode Dahlia" is a macro shot of a red dahlia in the light, with smoke flowing gracefully from the flower in a decorative manner.
The flower’s red colour immediately catches the eye and is truly the centrepiece of the photograph, but your gaze is soon drawn to the graceful lines of the smoke. Because the background is slightly darker in colour (purple – mauve-like), the white smoke stands out beautifully in the foreground, creating a striking contrast.
It’s as if the moment has been frozen, with the wisps of smoke hanging still in the air around the dahlia. Like water, droplets, mist and vapour, smoke is one of the elements I love to incorporate into my photo's to experiment and create new, atmospheric images.
This still life would look stunning in many different interior styles and settings. For example, this photograph would look magnificent in a romantic bedroom above the bed on an ArtFrame, on aluminium or HD-Metal in the living room above the sofa or sideboard, or on wallpaper as a truly stunning eye-catcher in the hall, corridor or waiting room!
©Marjolijn van den Berg