“Now, maybe you understand who I am.
In the city, in the valleys, I wander
in search of legends to begin anew.”
~ Calla Lilies, by Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda
Sunflowers are so much fun to photograph and I’d like to tell you the story of this particular image, still one of my favourites.
A couple of years ago, the gallery where I showed my work (Art In Hand) hosted a collaborative event with poets. Each poet was paired with an artist from the gallery (all different types of media) and they each submitted a poem to their artist. The artist then created a piece inspired by the poem.
It was a fun and challenging project. I was paired with Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, former poet laureate from Virginia, who sent me her poem, Calla Lilies. The entire poem is amazing but it was the excerpt above that really drew me in. I truly do feel that I wander in search of legends, and that legends are everywhere.
I tried a number of different subjects, but it wasn’t until my husband brought these huge, perfect sunflowers home from the farmers’ market that I knew I had found my muse. What I love about this image is that the sunflower seems to be looking back at me – a real connection.
Just last week, I took a framed copy of this image to the newly built Glick Eye Institute in Indianapolis, where it will be hung in a waiting area.
Do you photograph sunflowers? Or how about letting your favorite poem inspire you.