Imperfection is perfect in a square: Star anise between others

by Marjolijn van den Berg

"Imperfection is perfect in a square: Star anise among others" is a photo of a star anise. This star anise, which is the centrepiece of the photo, is not quite perfect in shape but that makes it much more interesting than the "perfect" star anise. As a result, this imperfect star anise, became the perfect star anise for me to photograph.

This star anise, whose two lower star tips have not opened and are thinner than the other star tips, lies on "a bed" of other star anise. This makes the colours and shapes recur in the background. This creates a sense of unity (and calmness) in the picture there is a kind of repetition in it. The heart of the star anise is roughly in the centre of the photo and stands out immediately when you look at it.
Because I chose a fairly small depth of field when setting my camera, the star anise is sharp in the centre and the further back you look, the gradually the sharpness decreases. This causes the background to blur. This gives a sense of depth in the work and creates a kind of calmness in the work, as not everything is in focus and so the focus becomes on the star anise in the middle. Because of the warm brown colours, this image gives me a sense of autumn.
This picture could hang beautifully in the kitchen or dining room, for example!
©Marjolijn van den Berg